I thought the Red Wings were going to wait one more year before they started spending their $23M worth of cap space. I was wrong. Stevie Y and the Red Wings have had enough of losing as they have gone out and signed David Perron, Ben Chariot, Andrew Copp, and others to huge contracts.
Detroit already has a great, young core with Moritz Sneider, Lucas Raymond, Filip Zadina, Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, Filip Hronek, and Gustav Lindstrom on the roster already, with Simon Edvinsson, Sebastian Cossa, Marco Kasper, and William Wallinder all preparing to burst through the ranks in the near future.
They didn’t need the 2022/23 offseason to be the time they splashed on free agent signings. Any positive results coming from this upcoming year would have been seen as a bonus as far as most Red Wings fans were concerned.
Yet, Steve Yzerman doesn’t think like the rest of us. He is a ruthless, calculated genius. He has cracked open the Red Wings’ cap-space “vault” and instantly turned this team into Stanely Cup contenders.
Yes, I said it. This iteration of the Detroit Red Wings should be contenders for the Stanley Cup come playoff time. Yzerman has added that final piece with the free agent acquisitions today: veteran leadership and experience.
Signing David Perron (2019 Stanley Cup Winner) to a 2-year, $9.5M contract, Ben Chariot (2021 Stanley Cup Finalist) to a 4-year, $19M contract, Andrew Copp (2022 Eastern Conference Finalist) to a 5-year, $28.125M contract, Olli Matta (2015 and 2016 Stanley Cup Winner) to a 1-year, $2.25M contract, and Dominik Kubalik (former 30-goal scorer) to a 2-year, $2.5M contract brings an enormous wealth of experience, talent, and a winning mentality.
That is invaluable to this young Red Wings core. And will be the tipping factor as to why I’m predicting them to have a turn-around season.
As I mentioned in this Ottawa article, I thought that either the Sens or Detroit would surpass the aging Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and/or the Boston Bruins this upcoming season. Now, after seeing all of Detroit and Ottawa’s offseason moves, I think both could make it into the playoffs.
That is how much Detroit has upgraded their roster (practically) “overnight”.
With Lucas Raymond, Gustav Lindstrom, and Moritz Sneider all getting more NHL experience, along with Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin taking the next step to NHL stardom, I can’t see why the Red Wings won’t push into the Top-3 in the Atlantic Division this upcoming season.
Florida, Tampa, and Toronto have all lost significant pieces, which could be the factor into the Red Wings taking one of their Top-3 division spots. Plus, Boston is without Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, Matt Grzelcyk, and maybe Patrice Bergeron to start the year. I seriously doubt that they can overcome a potential disastrous first few months of next season’s campaign.
The future sure is bright in Hockeytown once again!
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