Detroit Red Wings 2023-24 roster and lineup predictions

The Detroit Red Wings are in the home stretch of training camp and the regular season starts Thursday, October 12 against the New Jersey Devils. Season opening rosters are due on Monday, October 9 with plenty of questions on who makes the roster.

With half of the team being new this season, there is an abundance of questions about who makes the roster and who fits on what line. That is a good thing. Prospects who have plenty of talent may not make the roster due to player overhaul.

The Grand Rapids Griffins, an AHL affiliate of Detroit, will be getting players who should be in the NHL but have no room.

General manager Steve Yzerman made some moves in the off-season to give us this good problem. The team is deeper and has more scoring depth on forward and defense. The goaltending is Ville Husso and whoever plays the best in training camp.

The Detroit Red Wings are going to ice a pretty good team in 2023-24.

Below are my predictions on the opening night roster and what the lines may look like. The Detroit Red Wings also have a good problem in the fact that most of these players are versatile and can play multiple positions.

Red Wings 2023-24 Roster

Left-wingers: Klim Kostin, David Perron, Lucas Raymond, and Michael Rasmussen

Centers:  Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Joe Veleno, and Dylan Larkin

Right-wingers: Alex DeBrincat, Daniel Sprong, Christian Fischer, and Robby Fabbri

Defensemen: Ben Chiarot, Shayne Gostisbehere, Olli Maatta, Jeff Petry, Moritz Seider, and Jake Walman

Goaltenders: Ville Husso and James Reimer

Projected Lines

Raymond-Larkin-DeBrincat

Perron-Copp-Fabbri

Rasmussen-Compher-Sprong

Klostin-Veleno-Fischer

Walman-Seider

Gostisbehere-Petry

Chiarot-Maatta

Husso

Reimer

Forward Jonatan Berggren and defenseman Simon Edvinsson played well during training camp but to me did not outplay any veterans for a roster spot. If they are in fact sent to Grand Rapids, they will get a call-up or two during the season.

They are far too talented to stay in the AHL the entire season. Forward, and 2023 first-round draft pick, Nate Danielson, was one of the better players in both rookie camp and training camp but he will likely be sent back to his junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL.

The goaltending prospects were average at best. Sebastian Cossa looked okay outside of his bad period against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Jan Bednar was maybe the best throughout rookie camp and looked promising.

They are not close to competing for a backup role with the Red Wings and will need at least another year of development. We’ll see what happens during camps next season.

The training camp has been competitive and filled with line shuffling to see who fits. Newcomers have looked sharp and returnees have been solid with rookies playing well for the most part.

The Detroit Red Wings will have some prospects who may be a year or two away but certainly have a bright future.

Whatever the final roster looks like will be the right decision as the team looks better and is deeper than last season. It should be an interesting few days for Red Wings management.