In Detroit, there is hope that the Red Wings are one step, at least, closer to the playoffs than they have been the last few years.
Alex DeBrincat was acquired from the Ottawa Senators to provide offense in Detroit
The rebuild has methodical and purposeful thus far, but the fans are restless.
And ownership needs to see progress.
Detroit acquired Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators after he stated he would not re-sign with the Sens after this season. So, Ottawa got what they could from Detroit and sent DeBrincat packing.
“You see a team that’s maybe frustrated with being in a rebuild and wants to get out,” DeBrincat said. “I’m excited to be here and kind of join that and hopefully be part of the solution to get out of that. I’m just really excited to join these guys, and I definitely see the potential in this group.”
The question is, what DeBrincat has Detroit acquired. The 40-goal scorer, or the average skater the Senators were saddled with.
He was not the only pick up in the off season. Detroit signed a host of skaters including J.T. Compher, Daniel Sprong, Klim Kostin, Christian Fischer; Shayne Gostisbehere, and Justin Holl.
“I have been on both sides of it, and I know what it takes,” Compher said. “I’m excited to be with this group and build towards the ultimate goal of winning a championship, and it starts with making the playoffs. I’ve been through it before and excited to take on this challenge as well.”
They also added netminder James Reimer.
“I’m excited,” Sprong said. “Detroit was only 12 points out of a playoff spot last year. You’re talking about maybe a six-, seven-game swing here and there during the year. You don’t want to get too high. You don’t want to get too low. But you’re not far out of the race. It’s going to be a fight for playoffs, and I think that’s everyone’s goal in the organization this year.”
That’s a great deal of new faces in the lineup for this season.
“I think the guys will feel good that we’ve added NHL-quality players to the roster, and we hope to be more competitive, and the players will feed off that,” general manager Steve Yzerman said.
Add to those new skaters two prospects to the lineup. Defenseman
Simon Edvinsson and forward Marco Kasper are expected to make the roster this season.
Edvinsson picked up two goals in nine games with the Red Wings last season. The rest of his season was spent with the Grant Rapid Griffins of the AHL.
Kasper iced one game for Detroit last campaign after coming over the Swedish Hockey League.
His one game ended early after a broken kneecap in the game in early April.
“Just trying to come back strong out of that, working hard in the offseason and being ready for next season,” Kasper said on NHL.com.
Ville Husso will be the likely number one goaltender for Detroit. He had an up and down campaign in 2022-23, and his play will need to improve if the Red Wings are make a push for a playoff spot.
Reimer as his back up is a questionable ask. The 35-year old was in a shooting gallery in San Jose with the Sharks last season, but was less that consistent.
“Seems like a great guy,” Reimer said of Husso. “Looking forward to pushing each other and trying to give this team the best puck-stopping as possible.”
The real question is DeBrincat. Is a true 40-goal scorer? The Chicago Blackhawks sent him packing to Ottawa, and now the Senators have off loaded him Detroit.
The Red Wings may have a couple more seasons of treading water, Yzerman needs to get production from some suspect skaters and thin goalie tandem, to make any progress.
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