Detroit Red Wings

Four Detroit Red Wings Don’t Receive Qualifying Offers

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2022

Mitchell Stephens was one of four Detroit Red Wings who didn't receive qualifying offers

Mitchell Stephens is gone from the Detroit Red Wings before he had a true opportunity to show what he could do. The fourth line center is among four Detroit players who didn’t receive a qualifying offer today.

The others are defenseman Olli Juolevi, and goalies Kaden Fulcher and Filip Larsson. They are unrestricted free agents.

The Red Wings acquired Stephens from the Tampa Bay Lightning last July with the idea that he could become their fourth line center. He was going to be the team’s new Luke Glendening. But injuries limited him to just 27 games. He never was able to establish his value as a role player. Stephens was also injured for much of his last season with Tampa Bay

The following #LGRW players did not receive qualifying offers:

Mitchell Stephens
Olli Juolevi
Kaden Fulcher
Filip Larsson https://t.co/SZmunkIxeK

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) July 12, 2022

The Red Wings claimed Juolevi off waivers on March 6. The Vancouver Canucks made him the No.6 pick overall in 2016, but he has never lived up to the projects that he had talent to be an effective two-way defenseman. He has only played 41 NHL games with three different NHL teams.

Larsson and Fulcher were minor leaguers, although Fulcher did play 27 minutes for the Red Wings in 2018-19.

Will Red Wings pursue Strome?

Bigger name players, including Chicago center Dylan Strome and Washington goalie Ilya Samsonov, were among those who didn’t receive qualifying offers.

The Red Wings are looking for a big center who can score. Strome is 6-foot-3, 210 pounds and he scored 22 goals last season.

The Capitals are looking for a new starting goalie. They will try to sign Stanley Cup champion Darcy Kuemper. They recently traded No. 2 goalie Vitek Vanecek to the New Jersey Devils. Toronto goalie Jack Campbell is also an unrestricted free agent. The Edmonton Oilers could make him their starting goalie.

Other players without qualifying offers: Anaheim’s Sonny Milano, Pittsburgh’s Danton Heinen, Seattle’s Ryan Donato, Los Angeles’ Brendan Lemieux and Ottawa’s Victor Mete.