Perron is another strong forward who will add a veteran presence to the young offensive lines. Regarding all of the other signings, each player that was brought in will be making the 2022-23 Red Wings better. He is a versatile player who’s coming off of his best career season, so it will be exciting to see what he brings to the table.Īndrew Copp, New York Rangers ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) On top of the sentimental value, he is the 2C that this team needs oh so desperately. Funnily enough, Copp was Larkin’s captain back when they donned the Maize and Blue and now Larkin will be his. Bringing in a former Wolverine and Ann Arbor native gives Red Wings fans yet another “Hometown Kid” to love. The Copp signing was exciting to see happen, even if the term or salary was a little high for the liking of some. Since he was unable to check all of his boxes with the 2022 NHL Draft, Yzerman used free agency to fill all the spots that were still vacant. The Red Wings signed eight free agents, two of which formerly played for the Blues, growing the pipeline between the two teams even more. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Yzerman has done it once again. With all these pieces in place, and a new coach to implement his systems, Detroit should be a lot more competitive this season as the rebuild continues to pick up steam. This will allow Filip Hronek more offensive freedoms to play to his style and drive the rush from the backend, something the Wings struggled with last year. Määttä was initially a head-scratcher but with the departure of Marc Staal, Määttä’s presence will be that of another stay-at-home defender in the top-four. ![]() ![]() Replacing Danny DeKeyser with Chiarot, no matter what term on the contract, gives Seider a true top-line partner that will elevate his game instead of forcing him to always cover for his teammate’s mistakes. Although Kubalik hit a bit of a slump last season, putting him on the third line will allow him to remain an offensive threat without having the pressure of needing to produce in the top-six weighing on him.įinally, Yzerman was phenomenal in strengthening the defensive core around Seider. Picking up Kubalik is a solid replacement for departing forward Vladislav Namestnikov, as Kubalik brings a similar floor but with a much higher ceiling than Namestnikov, being three years younger. In need of a second-line center and a replacement for Sam Gagner, the Wings went out and got Andrew Copp and Perron who will instantly give Detroit an extra offensive punch behind Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond. The Red Wings did a great job of reinforcing its core, while not sacrificing the development of its incoming prospects. At first, I was a little surprised by a couple of the signings, mainly Olli Määttä and Dominik Kubalik, but the more that I contemplate what they represent, the happier I am with the pickups.ĭominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) Yzerman and the Red Wings made a statement this offseason – although this team is still rebuilding, they are prepared to be competitive. I’m not convinced that this contract will age well, but that’s a problem we can discuss later. Assuming he pairs with Moritz Seider on the blue line, the Red Wings will ice a top pairing that will be a pain in the you-know-what to play against, and Chiarot is used to playing big minutes, averaging north of 20 minutes in ice-time over the last three seasons. On the other side of things, giving a four-year deal to Ben Chiarot is my least-favorite signing of the bunch, but I understand the intent behind the signing. He should be good for around 20 goals and 50 points this season while providing veteran leadership for an upstart Red Wings team. ![]() He can be a real pest out on the ice, alleviating some of the pressure on Givani Smith and Tyler Bertuzzi to play that role, and he’s a Stanley Cup champion, winning the Cup with the St. David Perron wasn’t on my radar at all for the Red Wings, but I think he’s my favorite signing of the bunch. Now to be clear, there are some signings that excite me more than others. Related: Yzerman Puts Red Wings Back on the Map with Free Agent Moves Regardless of how these signings pan out this season and beyond, the excitement I’ve seen from fans over the past few days is worth every dollar Yzerman spent. There is legitimate hope and faith that Detroit will ice a roster capable of pushing for a playoff spot, and that’s something that hasn’t been the case in the Yzerman era up until now. Devin Little: Reigniting Excitement in HockeytownĪbove all else, Yzerman’s moves in free agency have fans excited to see the Red Wings return this Fall. This week, our grinders are here to share their thoughts on the Red Wings’ moves in free agency.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |