MLive’s Ansar Khan examines the Red Wings’ potential pairings on defense for this upcoming season, placing Ben Chiarot with Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson with Albert Johansson, and Erik Gustafsson with Travis Hamonic. I’m interested in the bottom pairing because there’s going to be significant shuffling of the Wings’ bottom four defensemen:
3. Erik Gustafsson-Travis Hamonic
Gustafsson’s ability to man the point on the second power play unit gives him the edge in the competition for a third pair spot, but he doesn’t have a firm grip on it. He needs to be better defensively and provide a little more offense (two goals, 18 points in 60 games). The 15-year veteran Hamonic does the dirty work (physical play, shot-blocking) that the Red Wings need.
Extras: Jacob Bernard-Docker, Justin Holl
Bernard-Docker is looking to establish himself after appearing in only 144 games over parts of five seasons with Ottawa and Buffalo. The Red Wings opted not to buy out Holl, who is entering the final season of his three-year, $10.2 million contract, because cap space is not an issue and there is always a need for experienced depth defensemen. But if everyone on defense is healthy, they might opt to waive Holl like they did before last season, and send him to Grand Rapids if he clears, rather than carry eight defensemen.
Continued; Khan doesn’t believe that Axel Sandin Pellikka’s quite ready for the NHL, barring a “spectacular” training camp.
