This morning, MLive’s Ansar Khan opens what will be a 3-part series of articles which will estimate the Red Wings’ opening-night lineup for the 2024-2025 season.
This morning, Khan discusses the Red Wings’ probable forward lineup (as well as those who will miss the cut, if only barely):
First line: Lucas Raymond-Dylan Larkin-Vladimir Tarasenko
The Red Wings signed Tarasenko for two years ($4.75 million average annual value) to help compensate for the offense they lost in the offseason. He tallied 23 goals and 55 points between Ottawa and Florida last season but should be capable of returning to his 30-goal form of 2021-22 with St. Louis (34 goals), playing on a top line and with more power-play minutes. Raymond took a huge step last season (31 goals, 72 points), particularly during the stretch run when the team was fighting for its playoff life. He will sign a huge contract this summer and be expected to continue his progression. Larkin, despite missing 14 games, scored a career-high 33 goals and averaged a career-best 1.01 points per game.
Second line: Alex DeBrincat-J.T. Compher-Patrick Kane
Kane and DeBrincat, former linemates with the Chicago Blackhawks, had good chemistry at times last season but can be better together. DeBrincat needs to be more consistent after a late-season slump (one goal and six assists in 19 games, with a 2.1 percent shooting percentage). Kane did remarkably well, coming off hip resurfacing surgery (20 goals, 47 points in 50 games) and figures to have a little more offense in him following a normal off-season and a training camp. Compher has averaged 18 goals and 50 points in the past two seasons. You’d like more production from a second-line center, but he still is their best option there.
Continued; I’m always a little cringe-y about making my own estimations of lineups in the middle of the summer given the ups and downs provided by preseason performances and injuries suffered over the course of the 8-game preseason schedule, but that’s probably a lack of confidence on my part.
How do you think that the Wings’ “top six” and “bottom six” forwards will shake out? You can use PuckPedia’s Wings page as a good reference in terms of the team’s depth chart.
