The Hockey News’s Jason Duench offers 5 things that the Red Wings need to avoid “a regression” this upcoming season, and among them are the following:
Veterans Stay Relevant
American hockey superstar Patrick Kane reinvigorated the Wings following his December 2023 debut – Detroit finished with the 15th-best regular-season record after Jan. 1. Kane’s 47 points in 50 games showed he still has game.
The 35-year-old will be joined this season by two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko, who is still capable of 30 goals and 60 points in a healthy season.
If Kane and Tarasenko can’t shoulder the load of their top six responsibilities, Detroit’s forward depth could get exploited by most teams in the formidable Atlantic Division.
Simon Edvinsson Is A Revelation On The Blueline
The sixth-overall selection from 2021 is NHL-ready. In 54 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Edvinsson posted eight goals and 30 points and parlayed that into a 16-game NHL stint where he helped the Wings push for the playoffs.
With the departure of frequent top-pairing D-man Jake Walman, there’s an opportunity for Edvinsson to not only play the whole year in Deroit but even surpass veterans Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta on the depth chart to take up the left side beside Moritz Seider.
Edvinsson is a rare breed of player with his uber-skilled puck-moving, graceful skating and 6-foot-6, 216-pound frame. He has all the tools to become a forceful top-pairing defender as soon as this season.
Continued; in all honesty, his points are salient.
