The Detroit Red Wings came within inches of making the playoffs last season, being eliminated at the last possible minute. In game 82, they fought back and put faith back into this team on how not to give up. With the season now over, the shift turns to next seasons roster and what the team could look like. Below are three areas of need for Detroit before next season begins in order to be a contender in the 2024-25 season.
Red Wings to secure key pieces for playoff run?
Starting goaltender
Last season, Alex Lyon assumed the starter position and played quite well. While he faltered down the stretch and in the playoffs, he proved he can play the position and gives the team a chance to win every night. However, Lyon is not a number one goaltender. He is suited for a backup role as the number of games played caught up to him last season. While the 2024 free agent goaltender list does not include any future Hall-of -Famers, it does have a solid list of goaltenders who the team should pursue. Those names include Ilya Samsonov, Scott Wedgewood, Nico Daws, and Arturs Silovs and are ones to watch as General Manager Steve Yzerman figures out what to do between the pipes.
Top-line forward
At forward, there is a lot of talent that will be available once free agency begins. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos has been rumored to Detroit and the Red Wings have a projected cap space of $30 million for the upcoming season. Captain Dylan Larkin needs help in the scoring department and Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond played a big role last season. However, a top-tier forward has eluded this team for years and it should be one of the top focuses for Yzerman.
Offensive defenseman
Aside from Moritz Seider and Jake Walman, Detroit may not have another defenseman with offensive capablitites next season. Shayne Gostisbehere, who led the Red Wings defense in scoring last season, is a free agent and may not be re-signed due to pricing himself out of a contract in Detroit. Nikita Zadorov, Brady Skjei, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson may be options to upgrade the defense and give it some offensive punch on the left side. For the right side, Sean Durzi, Brandon Montour, and Dylan DeMelo could be signed at the right price for the Red Wings.
With close to $30 million in projected cap space, the Red WIngs have options to upgrade the roster. Of Course, the main focus has to be on the contracts of Raymond and Seider, who could command a pretty penny. This season, Yzerman may want quality over quantity as he has signed more players to fill spots than quality players to could play top-line roles. The bottom-six could easily be filled by players in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins who have earned a spot in Detroit. A lot of decisions for Yzerman and the Red Wings this off-season.