USA Today’s Mike Brehm assesses the improvements made (or the lack thereof) by the NHL’s 32 teams this morning, issuing letter grades for every team. He affords the Red Wings the benefit of the doubt:
Detroit Red Wings – B
Gibson should upgrade the Red Wings’ goaltending, an offseason priority. They dealt disappointing forward Vladimir Tarasenko and added depth up front with Mason Appleton and James van Riemsdyk. Is it enough to get to the playoffs? Probably not on its own, but a full season of midseason replacement coach Todd McLellan could help.
Continued; the Red Wings still need to add a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman, but those moves may not happen until the upcoming season’s trade deadline.
