The Detroit Red Wings 2024-25 season is now over and once again, they have been eliminated from playoff competition. Plenty of blame to go around but one thing that cannot go unnoticed is this roster needs changes.
The top two forward lines are likely set for next season and a few defensemen and that is it. The 2025-26 roster has many questions, from who comes back to who is added in the offseason. Does the look of just the roster get updated or are there more positions off the ice that need to be addressed also?
Who to bring back?
One of the bigger agendas will be to bring back some of the unrestrricted free agenents (UFA). The current list of UFA's includes forwards Patrick Kane, Craig Smith, and Tyler Motte, defensemen Jeff Petry and William Lageson, and goaltender Alex Lyon.
It all comes down to money. Detroit will have money to spend but they have to spend it the right way. Kane will be considered the player that they would want to come back but it has to be a smaller deal with his age, and Kane may want more money and term than Detroit is willing to give him. Smith may be retiring and Motte is affordable if the Red Wings want him back.
Petry has been in trade rumors much of this season, so he may be looking elsewhere and Lageson is replaceable. Lyon is in the same boat as Kane. He put up respectable numbers in Detroit but he may have priced his way out of town, leaving Cam Talbot and Petr Mrazek as the Red Wings goalteding duo to start next season as it stands now.
Could the Red Wings use a buyout?
If general manager Steve Yzerman is going big game hunting in free agency, there needs to be money going out. One option is to use a buyout or two. two players who come to mind are forward Vladimir Tarasenko and defenseman Justin Holl.
Tarasenko has been largely disappointing this season and never fit in the lineup despite several changes in the lines. His contract isn't trade-friendly after his performance this season, so Detroit may want to end this and put it down as a loss.
Holl has also been in trade rumors and most though he would not have been on the team this season. Underperforming and missed assignments put him in the Tarasenko category as failed experiments and they may want a buyout to explore different options. Would be surprised if either one returns next season.
Load up in free agency?
The roster of Detroit needs a second-line center, defense, and an offensive producer. The list of 2025 free agents is long and is not a bad crop. However, what worries some Red Wings fans is that the prices will be too high, and Detroit will sign players who will not help next season.
Detroit has been extremely close to a playoff spot the last two seasons and their lack of stardom and top defensemen were noticeable. Detroit must get a top free agent and fix this defense to grab one of the playoff spots next season. Bringing back most of this season's players will yield the same result. The Red Wings could make a play for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.
The Red Wings and Yzerman know something has to change. Detroit has not made the playoffs in nine seasons and it will continue if the roster does not look different next season.
They have cap space for signings. They have draft capital and prospects to move in a deal. There are possibilities out there to improve this roster. We will have some changes next season but how many and how drastic will those changes be?