State of The Red Wings: Depth Should be an Asset

In a series of articles, Detroit Hockey Now is analyzing the state of the Detroit Red Wings heading into the 2024-25 NHL season. Today, we look at how the team’s depth could prove to be a significant advantage.

Depth is a popular talking point among NHL teams and the Detroit Red Wings are no different. However, when the Red Wings discuss the depth of their roster, it isn’t merely talk. It’s a fact of life that should prove beneficial to the club over the course of the 2024-25 NHL season.

“I look at our group and our team today, the roster today and compare it to last year’s group,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “It’s a little bit different, might be a little bit better fit as far as roles for players with where they where they play.”

Christian Fischer on the state of the Red Wings: “We’ve got hall of famers choosing to sign contracts with us … I think that says a lot about our organization.” #LGRW

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No matter where you look, there is an abundance of NHL-caliber players to fill roles. For instance, among the club’s top-six forwards, there are five players who’ve posted 30-goal campaigns in the league – Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Vladimir Tarasenko and Lucas Raymond. Kane, DeBrincat and Tarasenko all show 40-goal seasons on their NHL resumes.

Red Wings Lalonde Has Options

There are options in how Detroit coach Derek Lalonde wants to set up his four forward lines. Among the top six, he can choose to play frequent linemates DeBrincat and Kane together. That would leave the 6-foot-1, 219-pound Tarasenko to add size alongside Larkin and Raymond.

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In the bottom-six group, Lalonde can opt to again go with a checking line of Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen and Christian Fischer. They were a very effective unit over the second half of last season. Then again, he might decide to slot Jonatan Berggren on that line to give it more offensive upside. By dropping Fischer to the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Tyler Motte, Detroit could ice an energy line in which all three players counted at least 100 hits last season.

Defense Still Deep

Even with the departures of Shayne Gostisbehere and Jake Walman, the Red Wings can still count on seven legit NHL defenders. The top two pairings figure to be the same, putting Moritz Seider with Ben Chiarot and Simon Edvinsson alongside Jeff Petry. A third pairing of Olli Maatta and newcomer Erik Gustafsson also seems likely to start out.

Don’t count out Justin Holl, either. As a right shot, he’ll find playing time, especially if there are injuries on the back end.

“He’s an NHL defenseman.,” Yzerman said of Holl. “Justin was a good player in the NHL and will be.”

Beyond them, Albert Johansson will be getting his first NHL tests. William Lagesson suited up for 40 NHL games last season.

Red Wings Have Four Veteran Goaltenders

Not many NHL teams can boast of going four-deep in netminders with 80+ games of NHL experience, but the Red Wings can. Added to the duo of Alex Lyon and Vill Husso in offseason moves were Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell.

All four of these guys have served as No. 1 NHL goalies during their careers. Talbot believes that being able to call upon so much experience between the pipes will serve the club well.

“There’s gonna be the competition no matter what between three three or four of us,” Tablot said. “That internal competition is good for everyone. It’s good for the goaltenders. It pushes us. It pushes the goalie coaches to try to make us better.

“But it gives the team confidence in both of the guys that are in there. And when they see us battling hard for that spot, they’re gonna want to play that much harder for us in front of us.”