The Hockey News’s Jan Levine posted three fantasy hockey previews regarding the Detroit Red Wings this morning, starting with a fantasy hockey outlook for the entire team…
As mentioned in the projected lineups column, the first line is more than solid. Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond should combine for close to 100 goals and 225 points. Then the production levels out, Patrick Kane showed that age is just a number, posting 59 points in 72 contests last season. Marco Kasper improved the second half of the season, but he needs to take another step forward to provide the level of offense this team needs.
Once you get past those five offensively, the output up front thins substantially. Jonathan Berggren may be in a make-or-break campaign. If he fails to produce, he could be elsewhere next season. James Van Riemdsyk will be counted on to provide some tertiary scoring and veteran leadership. Andrew Copp underwent surgery for a torn pectoral tendon in late February but should be ready for training camp and a middle-six role.
Perfect world, Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson or Dmitri Buchelnikov force their way onto the team. Beyond that, what we see is what they will be. The Red Wings may lack enough offense unless Michael Rasmussen, Elmer Soderblom or Mason Appleton raises their output to make the playoffs and will need to rely on improvements in net.
Simon Edvisson is vying for and deserves a long-term contract. He has just scratched the surface of how good he will be. Paired next to Moritz Seider, the team’s best all-around player, the duo provides Detroit a legitimate first group.
After those two, the talent falls off, at least on the current roster. Axel Sandin-Pellikka and William Walinder will eventually be the second pair. ASP is an offensive juggernaut while Wilander his defensive ballast. When that occurs remains to be seen. Until then, the lines of Ben Chiarot, Justin Holl, Jonathan Bernard-Docker, Erik Gustafsson and Ian Mitchell will split time on the blueline.
Where Detroit hopes they have improved is between the pipes. John Gibson, on the block for years in Anaheim, but hard to move due to his contract and his desire to stay with the Ducks, landed with the Red Wings this offseason. If he can avoid injury, Gibson should take on the bulk of the workload, reducing Cam Talbot to back up duty, at least under Sebastian Cossa is deemed ready. When at the top of his game, Gibson is an above average netminder.
He discusses the Red Wings’ projected lineup…
Key losses: F Vladimir Tarasenko, D Jeff Petry, G Petr Mrazek/Alex Lyon
Key additions: G John Gibson, F James van Riemsdyk, F Craig Smith
Expected lineup:
Alex DeBrincat – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
Jonathan Berggren – Marco Kasper – Patrick Kane
Michael Rasmussen – J.T. Compher- Mason Appleton
James Van Riemsdyk – Andrew Copp – Elmer Soderblom
Simon Edvinsson – Moritz Seider
Ben Chiarot – Albert Johansson
Erik Gustafsson – Justin Holl
John Gibson – Cam Talbot – Sebastian Cossa
PP1: DeBrincat –Larkin –Raymond – Kane – Seider
PP2: Berggren – Rasmussen – Compher – van Riemsdyk – Gustafsson
And Levine offers “fantasy hockey booms and busts“:
Breakout Candidate: Marco Kasper, C
Kasper took a step-forward the second half of the season. Skating on a line with Patrick Kane, the young pivot should benefit from skating next to the veteran. His left wing remains up in the air, but seeing how little Vladimir Tarasenko provided, Kasper could so worse than having Jonathan Berggren on the wing. A solid full season overall could result in Kasper breaking the 50-point barrier.
Buy Low Candidate: John Gibson, G
Gibson, due to injuries, was limited to 29 appearances for Anaheim in 2024-25, his lowest games-played total since 2014-15 (23), which was his second year in the league. His overall numbers showed improvement, racking up an 11-11-2 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. Detroit is hoping for a return to prior form from Gibson, who if healthy, should win 20 or more games for the first time since 2019-20.
Riser: Simon Edvinsson, D
Edvinsson, the sixth overall pick in 2021, posted seven goals (three game-winners), 24 helpers, 67 PIM, 86 shots on goal, 86 hits, 144 blocked shots and a plus-12 rating over 78 games in 2024-25. Skating on the final year of his entry-level contract, Edvinsson should earn a long-term contract this season. Skating next to Moritz Seider, Edvinsson could notch 35-40 points while manning the second unit power-play.
Faller: Cam Talbot, G
Talbot, last year’s #1 netminder, will cede that role to John Gibson, as long as Gibson stays healthy. If not, Sebastian Cossa could get a look-see in the top-role if the Red Wings blow it up and go young. Talbot, who is 38, is at the teil end of his solid career and best served at filling a backup role, which should be his position this season.
