Again, I’m no fan of mid-summer free agency speculation, but the Hockey News’s Jake Tye posted an article which gets at least 2 of 3 recommendations for the Red Wings “right.” I believe that 28-year-old defenseman Oliver Kylington and 31-year-old Matt Grzelcyk could both fit in on the Red Wings’ blueline:
Oliver Kylington – LHD
The 28-year-old blueliner has struggled through different ailments over recent years with his most recent battle being with his mental health. Kylington has played just 54 games over the last two seasons and recorded 13 points during that span.
The Swedish defenceman has shown to be an impact player in the past with nine goals and 22 assists for 31 points through 73 games during the 2021-22 season with the Calgary Flames. Kylington could be a useful option with the expectation being a bottom pairing role as he could work in with Albert Johansson.
His confidence and hopefully his mental health could be built up in one of the best organizations in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. This could provide him with a massive boost in his overall confidence and tap back into his high upside as a second round pick back in 2015 by the Flames. His last 23 AHL games went as good as you can expect from a defenceman, as he totalled ten goals and seven assists for 17 points.
Matt Grzelcyk – LHD
The top producing free agent left on the board is the Penguins blueliner, who is coming off a big season with the Penguins, where he put up a solid 40 points with over 20 minutes of ice-time per game. His 40 points had him tied for 26th in points by defenceman with his name in the same conversation as other difference making defenceman like Edmonton’s Jake Walman and St. Louis’s Cam Fowler.
The 31-year-old is likely looking for a bit of term to carry him into his mid- to late-30s and it appears teams aren’t willing to meet him there. As a regular 20-30 point player he would likely work as a solid middle pairing defenceman that can handle serious minutes.
Detroit GM Steve Yzerman has made it clear he doesn’t want to block pathways for young up-and-coming players, which makes this add not as likely but would add an immediate improvement to their blueline. He likely slides into the second pairing with Jacob Bernard-Docker while Ben Chiarot could look to work in with Johansson.
Continued; I’m not as much of a fan of Tye’s suggestion that the Red Wings could sign 29-year-old goalie Alexandar Georgiev as a 3rd goaltender, but that’s just me.
If we’re going to be talking about potential free middle-of-the-summer free agent targets for the Red Wings, they should be realistic, and Kylington and Grzelcyk are two players who fit the Wings’ “type.”
