The Detroit Red Wings have announced their roster for the upcoming 2024-25 season and it comes with questions.
With one addition from a player tryout (PTO) to a player who was the best player being left off the roster and being sent down to three goaltenders on the roster.
Moves may still be made but this is currently how the roster shakes out and was used for game one of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10 from Little Caesars Arena.
Red Wings roster is set but has questions
Forwards
48 Jonatan Berggren 37 J.T. Compher 18 Andrew Copp 93 Alex DeBrincat 36 Christian Fischer 88 Patrick Kane 71 Dylan Larkin 14 Tyler Motte 27 Michael Rasmussen 23 Lucas Raymond 11 Vladimir Tarasenko 90 Joe Veleno
Defensemen
8 Ben Chiarot 77 Simon Edvinsson 56 Erik Gustafsson 20 Albert Johansson 2 Olli Maatta 46 Jeff Petry 53 Moritz Seider
Goaltenders
35 Ville Husso 34 Alex Lyon 39 Cam Talbot
Injured/ non roster
Shai Buium, Jack Campbell, Tim Gettinger, Austin Watson
The main question from the roster is about the addition of winger Austin Watson. He was signed to a PTO and earned his way on to the team.
He has been sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League since, however, forward Marco Kasper was one of the best forwards throughout training camp and was sent down.
To many, this move makes no sense to keep him off the main roster, while there was a place for Watson before he was sent down. Kasper earned a spot through hard work and offensive creativity, but was sent to the Griffins.
One has to think about the reasoning behind this move as Detroit elected to bring a more veteran roster instead of inputting young stars who had a good camp.
Another interesting note is the idea to have three goaltenders on thee opening night roster. Talbot, Husso, and Lyon are all on the team and, again, one has to wonder why.
Talbot is on the team because he recently signed a contract and was consistent throughout the preseason. Lyon was outstanding last season, and has played his way on because of his capabilities to handle the workload. Husso is a question mark due to his injury history with the Red Wings.
He is a talented goaltender when healthy, but has been riddled with injuries since joining Detroit. He has played well in the preseason and has been given the nod to start the season between the pipes in game one. Is he a big risk to keep on the team? Is he able to withstand the entire season?
Detroit should have cut ties with Husso because of the uncertainty of his health from season to season and ran with the goaltending duo of Talbot and Lyon.
Red Wings hockey is about to kick off and there is much anticipation of a great season. Building off of last season's momentum and the addition of Talbot and Tarasenko, Detroit is hopeful to land a playoff spot this season finally.
Expectations are high but it all depends on the health of the team. If they stay healthy, this could be a good team.