Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen asks 5 pertinent questions regarding the Red Wings’ potential 2026-2027 season performances with an as-is roster:
Five storylines to ponder as we head toward trading Dylan Larkin, hiring a new Director of Hockey Operations and trying to avoid an 11th consecutive season out of the playoffs.
- How many goals will Marco Kasper score this season? Right now, he projects to be Detroit’s No. 1 center between Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond.
- Is Nate Danielson healthy enough now to challenge for a Red Wings’ roster spot? He’s never going to be a dominant offensive performer, but could be a helpful contributor.
- Can Michael Brandsegg-Nygard play in Detroit’s top six? He offers a physical presence and a big shot.
- Last season, John Gibson was a difference-maker after Dec. 1. Can he be that player again this season.
- Who plays on the second line with Arvidsson and Andrew Copp? Is it a young player, such as Emmitt Finnie or Brandsegg-Nygard? Or, will it be a player that comes to Detroit in the Larkin deal?
My takes:
- Kasper is still a 20-goal-scorer and more of a playmaking force in my mind. I still believe that he can be a 50-point player in the future, but I am an optimist about his recovery from a sophomore slump;
- I believe that Nate Danielson’s ready to contribute. He may be more of a two-way center at this point, but the Red Wings need all the center depth that they can get right now, and he was sharp in Grand Rapids;
- MBN will probably start as a 3rd-line player, and while he’s not huge at 6’1″ and 207 pounds, he’s very stocky, very strong and very talented in terms of getting that shot off in traffic. I would like to see the Wings continue to develop MBN’s shooting with skills coaches in order to establish his shot as a reliable scoring threat;
- Gibson will have to be a difference-maker this upcoming season, but he won’t be alone. Daniil Tarasov should provide solid back-up goaltending, and, if the Red Wings’ next GM is a smart person, the Wings will see some of Michal Postava and Trey Augustine in Detroit as well;
- Again, MBN starts on the Wings’ 3rd line for now, so it’s a Finnie-Copp-Arvidsson 2nd line for me.
