2 free-agent defensemen the Detroit Red Wings should consider
The Detroit Red Wings could fix their blue-line with two big free agent signings this summer.
The Detroit Red Wings are in full off-season mode and the phone of General Manager Steve Yzerman has to be busy. Whether it is working on trades, the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft, or any of the Red Wings free agents, Yzerman has a busy off-season ahead of him.
One thing that has to be on the top of his list is figuring out where he should go on defensemen. With the right signings, they could vastly improve their blueline with two big deals.
As the Red Wings head towards the draft, the free agency period has to be on their minds also. With the possibility that defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Holl, Olli Maatta, and Jeff Petry may not be back, Yzerman has to make a splash and bring in some quality players that will fill holes on defense.
The Red Wings have some big moves they need to make this summer
We know that the Detroit Red Wings can score some goals. We also know that they need to be better at goal prevention. They have a chance to improve on that during the off-season if they wish to be an even better team in 2024-25.
There are more than one free-agent defensemen that should be considered by the Red Wings when the time is right. These are the two that they should consider first:
Jalen Chatfield would make an incredible improvement on Detroit's blue-line
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield went undrafted but he sure has turned out to be a star on the back end. He is everything a head coach wants and many teams will be after his services when free agency begins if he does not re-sign.
Chatfield brings a lot to the table and would instantly fix the Red Wings defense on the right side. He is a shutdown defenseman who plays a physical game, can start the offense with a good transition game, and is a steady penalty-killer.
Chatfield is a defenseman who can play 20:00 minutes a night and be effective every minute he is on the ice. While defense is his number one skill, he can contribute offensively. This season, he scored eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points and was a +15.
His contract is extremely affordable for the Red Wings and one that Yzerman should jump on. His last deal was a 2-year/ $1.525 million deal that certainly fits in the Detroit salary cap for next season.
He can play a second-pairing or third-pairing role and play a majority of the penalty kill. He is one guy that Detroit should bring in based on the help they need on the right side and the contract he has.
NIkita Zadorov would make a great addition to the Red Wings defense
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov would be another massive pickup for the Red Wings and Yzerman. He, like Chatfield, brings a lot to the table and would fill several voids on the back end. At 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, he brings much-needed size to the defense.
He can play the right or left side, he loves to play a physical game, and he can also produce offense. He would provide Detroit with a mean defenseman, something they have not had in a while.
Zadorov, a 16th overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft, could be a top-pairing defenseman with Moritz Seider which would be the duo that the Red Wings have been looking for. His last contract was a 2-year deal with $7.5 million.
Along with Chatfield, he may want a raise but together should fit nicely in the salary cap. Last season, he combined for six goals and 14 assists for 20 points and 125 penalty minutes between the Canucks and the Calgary Flames.
Both players would likely come close to $10 million for the two combined but it would also fill two big holes on defense.
Both players would give the Red Wings a new physical style of defense that could be their key to earning a playoff spot next season.
Detroit needs to upgrade their defense in the worst way and these moves would do that. The defense was a big issue last season and they need a new look with players who are defense first and play a mean style of hockey.
Yzerman knows what needs to be done to upgrade the defense for them to be successful and it starts with changes to the style they play. Chatfield and Zadorov are going to be available and the Red Wings have a golden opportunity to fix a defense that was average with two signings.
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