The first day of free agency was underwhelming for the Red Wings, but it’s hard to call them a ‘loser’ just yet

Okay. It’s the evening of July 1st, Canada Day, and the Red Wings haven’t accomplished very much in terms of shopping for free agents, among a weak free agent class.

The team’s signed James van Riemsdyk to a 1-year, $1 million contract, it’s signed wild card defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a 1-year, $875,000 contract, and Grand Rapids Griffins-bound defenseman Ian Mitchell and left wing John Leonard to $775,000 contracts.

Now the Wings have admittedly sit on the sidelines as several teams have landed free agent forwards with offensive panache or physical bite for fairly modest terms, but the Wings also sit with $15.33 million of salary cap space, with only restricted free agent Elmer Soderblom to re-sign.

It is highly likely that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will at least pursue potential trades over the next couple of weeks, too, and as such, it’s very hard to give the Red Wings a “free agency grade” while the team is still actively attempting to improve its roster.

Nonetheless, writers are already doling out free agency grades, and Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin has deemed the Red Wings to be a “loser” due to their inactivity:

Continue reading The first day of free agency was underwhelming for the Red Wings, but it’s hard to call them a ‘loser’ just yet

Tweet of sadness: Alex Delvecchio has passed away

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

John Gibson’s optimistic about the next chapter of his career

Updated 2x at 7:22 PM: The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a set of comments from new Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, who held a Zoom press conference earlier today, and now, DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills offers his take on the Gibson presser:

Gibson believes two key faces behind Detroit’s bench will help him get used to his new surroundings.

“He holds his standard and principles, and you just kind of go,” Gibson said about Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, who he played for on Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. “Piggybacking off that, I had a lot of experience with [assistant coach] Trent Yawney as well. Kind of grew up with him –he was my first coach in Norfolk and had him for quite a few years in Anaheim, so having some familiar faces there with Trent and Todd definitely helps ease the transition.”

What’s more, Gibson has already heard from some of his new Red Wings teammates, including captain Dylan Larkin and fellow goalie Cam Talbot.

“Still kind of going through, getting some names and numbers,” Gibson said. “I’m meeting everybody now. Obviously, with July 1 and everything going on, it’s been a busy week and I’m sure it’ll be a busy few days. I’m sure as things start to settle in and all that, then there will be more of that going on.”

With plenty of talent set to play in front of him, Gibson said he sees promise in Detroit’s roster and is determined to help the club take that next step in 2025-26.

“Their resume over the last few years shows that they’re right there,” Gibson said about the Red Wings. “That’s where I want to be. I want to be fighting for the playoffs and get in the playoffs. I truly feel that all you got to do is make it in the playoffs, and once you do that it’s a whole new season whether you’re the Presidents’ Trophy Winner or the eighth seed. You never know what could happen.”

Continued

Update: Here’s more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

Continue reading John Gibson’s optimistic about the next chapter of his career

Red Wings sign left wing John Leonard to 1-year, $775K contract

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Leonard is a 26-year-old left and right wing who is 5’10” and 190 pounds. He posted 36 goals and 25 assists for 61 points over the course of 72 games with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL this past season.

Seravalli: Red Wings to sign James van Riemsdyk to 1-year, $1 million contract

Per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli:

At 36, van Riemsdyk is a winger who stands at 6’3″ and 207 pounds. He posted 16 goals and 36 points for the Boston Bruins last season.

Update: Per The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

The Red Wings have needed more scoring and are a little small up front, so bringing in James van Riemsdyk makes sense on both fronts. The 6-foot-3 winger’s 16 goals last season would have ranked sixth on the Red Wings, and his 36 points would have ranked seventh. On a cheap, one-year deal, that’s a nice addition.

The big question: is this scoring depth for the third line, or is van Riemsdyk the plan to play next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond on the top line? van Riemsdyk has averaged less than 14 minutes per game in each of the last two seasons, so you’d think it’s the former. But on a free agent market this thin, is there even a serious top-six winger left out there, beyond Nikolaj Ehlers?

Tweet of note: Hello, Carter Bear

Per Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal:

Red Wings sign defenseman Ian Mitchell to 1-year, $775K contract

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Mitchell is a 26-year-old defenseman who stands at 6′ and 190 pounds. He played in 15 games for the Boston Bruins and 47 games for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, where he posted 27 points.

Update: Here’s the Wings’ press release:

Continue reading Red Wings sign defenseman Ian Mitchell to 1-year, $775K contract