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At the 60-game mark of the common season, the Detroit Red Wings discover themselves entrenched in the battle for a playoff spot to finish their playoff drought. Throughout the season, there have been a number of surprises and disappointments from the workforce and people as properly. Being three-quarters of the method by means of the season, how does the roster grade out?
*All stats are as of March 1*
High Honors
JT Compher
2023-24 stats: 55 GP- 15 Goals, 21 assists, 36 factors, plus-five
JT Compher has been certainly one of the Red Wings’ most constant and dependable gamers all through the season. While his offensive sport has been stable for the workforce, his all-around sport has come up large when it has additionally been wanted. He has provide you with large faceoff wins at clutch moments whereas being certainly one of the workforce’s greatest penalty-kill specialists. The contract that general manager Steve Yzerman signed him to final offseason was scrutinized, however Compher has proven that he has been price each penny of that contract up to now.
Grade: A
Patrick Kane
2023-24 stats: 29 GP- 13 targets, 18 assists, 31 factors, minus-one
Coming off a hip surgical procedure that saved him out of motion for the begin of the 2023-24 season, Yzerman introduced Patrick Kane in with hopes that he might present glimpses of the participant that he as soon as was whereas additionally re-uniting him with former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat. To this level, Kane has far exceeded the expectations that the group most likely had for him after they signed him.
He has seemed each little bit of the participant he was earlier than his surgical procedure, showcasing his playmaking potential alongside along with his stickhandling and all-around offensive sport. He has helped push the Red Wings’ powerplay to a different stage whereas making a stable trio with DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin. With Kane getting top-line minutes, Lucas Raymond has slid to the second line and settled into that function fairly properly up to now.
Grade: A
Dylan Larkin
2023-24 stats: 54 GP- 26 targets, 28 assists, 54 factors, minus-three
The captain of the Red Wings got here into this season with some added expectations after signing an eight-year extension in April 2023, and up to now, Larkin has lived as much as these expectations whereas main the method for the workforce. For the Red Wings, Larkin has seemed robust on each ends of the ice. His defensive sport has been robust once more, as he has proven a willingness to backcheck arduous on rushes, resulting in turnovers and rushes for the Red Wings. His offensive sport has additionally been spot-on all through the season, which has been helped out by the incontrovertible fact that he has been paired up with Kane and DeBrincat for the final couple of months. He at present is tied with DeBrincat in powerplay targets with ten as he has taken over the “bumper” spot on the prime unit and has succeeded at a excessive stage.
Grade: A
Alex Lyon
2023-24 stats: 29 GP (28 begins)- 18-9-2 report, .912 save share (SV%), 2.74 goals-against common (GAA), two shutouts
Very probably the greatest and most vital shock for the Red Wings this season has been the play of offseason acquisition Alex Lyon. After not taking part in a lot for the first a part of the season, Lyon earned some taking part in time with Ville Husso being away from the workforce, and he by no means seemed again.
He has turn into certainly one of the league’s most constant goaltenders this season and has helped deliver some power to the workforce and its followers. With Husso being out with an harm as soon as once more, Lyon might be closely relied upon going ahead, and his robust play might want to proceed if the Red Wings want to finish their playoff drought.
Grade: A
Lucas Raymond
2023-24 stats: 60 GP- 17 targets, 34 assists, 51 factors, minus-11
Entering the season, Raymond was seeking to bounce again from a sophomore-slumped season, and he has carried out simply that up to now. As talked about, with Kane taking up the top-line minutes, Raymond has crammed in the prime spot on the workforce’s second line and has succeeded at a excessive stage for the Red Wings in that function. With what appears to be an added stage of confidence in his sport, he has produced at a great tempo and has seemed like the participant who had a powerful rookie season two seasons in the past.
Raymond has additionally proven extra willingness to get into the soiled areas of the ice and throw his physique round after displaying as much as coaching camp this season with some added weight and muscle to his physique.
Grade: A
Daniel Sprong
2023-24 stats: 60 GP- 16 targets, 23 assists, 39 factors, plus-one
Daniel Sprong has simply turned himself into certainly one of the league’s most underrated gamers this season, contemplating the contract he signed with the Red Wings final offseason. He has been in a position to benefit from the ice time that he has been given and switch it right into a season that might very simply finish with him breaking the 20-goal and 50-point mark. But it has not been simply his offensive sport that has caught out for the workforce this season, as he has turn into certainly one of the workforce’s “energizer” gamers whereas taking part in in the backside six of the ahead grouping this season. He has been a pest on the forecheck, creating a number of possibilities for his linemates whereas permitting the prime strains some relaxation when wanted.
Grade: A
Honors
Ben Chiarot
2023-24 stats: 55 GP- Four targets, 11 assists, 15 factors, plus-two
After a season that was one to neglect final season for Ben Chiarot, he has had a stable bounce again this yr for the most half. There are nonetheless instances when he finds himself both in no-man’s land or in the mistaken place in the defensive zone. But total, he has had a great season for the Red Wings on the second defensive pairing. His offensive sport has seemed stable, as he has proven a willingness to leap into the rush and play in the offensive zone fairly a bit recently. His continued stable play will assist dictate what occurs with the Red Wings and their playoff possibilities at the finish of the common season.
Grade: B
Andrew Copp
2023-24 stats: 59 GP- 10 targets, 16 assists, 26 factors, plus-five
After a disappointing first season with the Red Wings, Andrew Copp has bounced again properly this yr and has been more healthy than earlier seasons (he’s solely missed one sport up to now). While the offensive numbers will not be the place many would have hoped they’d be because of the contract he was given, Copp has created a powerful pairing with Compher on the penalty kill and has been one more certainly one of the Red Wings’ energizer kind gamers along with his robust play this season.
Grade: B
Alex DeBrincat
2023-24 stats: 60 GP- 23 targets, 30 assists, 53 factors, plus-three
While the stats that DeBrincat has put up this season might warrant “high honors” on this report card for the workforce, he hit a sluggish level in the center of the season after getting off to a torrid begin as a Red Wing. He has been certainly one of the workforce’s greatest goal-scorers on the season (tied with Larkin in powerplay targets) and is one other participant who has benefited from the arrival of Kane. The connection between the two has been on show since Kane placed on a winged wheel jersey.
Related: Red Wings Add Much More than Goals with DeBrincat Trade
When acquired by Yzerman and the Red Wings, DeBrincat had not been often called a participant who was essentially robust defensively, however he has been in a position to quiet a few of these doubters and naysayers along with his play this season. He has additionally proven a willingness to combine it up when wanted, getting concerned in a few fights this season, which has helped deliver some wanted power to the remainder of the workforce. If he can proceed taking part in constantly, there’s no cause he is not going to earn himself an “A” grade at season’s finish.
Grade: A-
Robby Fabbri
2023-24 stats: 46 GP- 15 targets, ten assists, 25 factors, minus-six
Robby Fabbri has battled the harm bug for one more season. His offensive sport has been on monitor all through the season, primarily in spurts. With all of Yzerman’s offseason strikes and acquisitions, he has discovered himself in a great place, due to the depth of the ahead group. If he can play extra constantly and keep wholesome the remainder of the season, it would go a good distance for the Red Wings and himself.
Grade: B
Christian Fischer
2023-24 stats: 57 GP- Two targets, 12 assists, 14 factors, plus-ten
When Yzerman introduced Christian Fischer in on a one-year deal, he was wanting so as to add to the depth of the ahead group whereas bringing in some grit that was a lot wanted. Fischer has crammed the “gritty” participant function in a backside six function whereas additionally bringing some power to the lineup.
He has seemingly been certainly one of the gamers on the workforce who has introduced some veteran management and power to the bench all through the season. If he can chip in additional offensively, Fischer might discover himself incomes some increased honors at season’s finish.
Grade: B+
Shayne Gostisbehere
2023-24 stats: 59 GP- Nine targets, 30 assists, 39 factors, minus-14
Another participant introduced in on a one-year deal final offseason, Shayne Gostisbehere, has carried out what many anticipated he would do for the Red Wings offensively. He has been robust on the man benefit (20 powerplay assists) and five-on-five play. But he has had an issue defensively throughout the first 60 video games of the season. If he can clear up his play in his personal finish, on prime of attempting to pressure performs from the offensive blue line at instances, Gostisbehere might put Yzerman in a troublesome spot at the finish of the season. There can also be a slight probability he’ll get traded by the deadline.
Grade: B+
Olli Maatta
2023-24 stats: 52 GP- Four targets, 11 assists, 15 factors, plus-18
After beginning the season as the odd man out in the defensive group, Olli Maatta has been entrenched in the lineup for all however eight video games. He has not been setting the world on fireplace offensively however has provide you with some well timed offensive performs to assist the workforce out big-time. He has been robust in his zone, the place his defensive sport has been stable for many of the season.
Grade: B
David Perron
2023-24 stats: 54 GP- 12 targets, 19 assists, 31 factors, minus-ten
David Perron continues to be a veteran chief in the locker room for the Red Wings this season whereas additionally with the ability to produce at a stable stage. He has discovered himself sliding up and down the lineup with head coach Derek Lalonde looking for the right combination of fellows, however he has been a constant participant offensively, in five-on-five play and on the powerplay. But the place he has slipped up this season at instances has been defensively. For a participant who might be a free agent at the finish of the season, he has performed properly sufficient to earn himself both an extension from the Red Wings or one other suitor in the offseason.
Grade: B+
Michael Rasmussen
2023-24 stats: 60 GP- 12 targets, 14 assists, 26 factors, plus-14
While he has not essentially lived as much as the first-round decide expectations he had when being drafted in 2017, Michael Rasmussen has been in a position to carve out a significant function in the middle-to-bottom six of the Red Wings lineup and was lately rewarded with a four-year extension. The big-bodied ahead has used his measurement to his benefit much more this season and has been stronger offensively for the Red Wings.
Grade: A-
James Reimer
2023-24 stats: 16 GP (13 begins)- 6-6-2 report, .907 SV%, 2.91 GAA, two shutouts
Brought in to compete with Lyon for the backup goaltender spot behind Husso, James Reimer has performed solely three video games lower than Husso has this season. He began on a excessive observe with the Red Wings, posting a shutout in his first begin, however has seen a roller-coaster season ensue. There have been instances when he has seemed stable, after which there are different instances when followers sit and surprise what precisely he’s doing in the web.
Either method, he has been stable sufficient for the Red Wings as a backup, whereas Lyon has carried the workload for the most half. They could depend on him a bit extra down the stretch in order that Lyon isn’t overworked.
Grade: B
Moritz Seider
2023-24 stats: 60 GP- Seven targets, 25 assists, 32 factors, minus-two
After winning the Calder Trophy for the league’s best rookie two seasons ago, there have been sky-high expectations positioned upon Moritz Seider. While he began slightly tough this season, he has gotten his complete sport again to the place it was when he received the Calder. While being on the ice towards the opponent’s prime ahead strains, he has shut them down fairly properly. His offensive sport has been in a position to get going as of late as properly, displaying off a powerful shot and poise from the blue line for the Red Wings. He has been a staple on the powerplay for the workforce this season, including 16 factors on the man benefit up to now. With his robust play, Seider ought to be taking part in himself right into a stable contract extension this offseason from Yzerman.
Grade: A-
Joe Veleno
2023-24 stats: 58 GP- 11 targets, 15 assists, 26 factors, minus-12
Much like Rasmussen, Joe Veleno has not lived as much as the hype and expectations of being a first-round decide however has labored arduous sufficient to construct a stable function in the backside six of the lineup this season. His offensive sport has been on show, at instances, all through the season, as he has proven a powerful playmaking potential and shot when given the time and house.
Veleno has additionally turn into certainly one of the gamers who has been relied upon to deliver some power to the remainder of the workforce in his function and has carried out a stable job of doing so. Entering a contract yr, a powerful end to the season could also be sufficient to earn one other extension from the workforce after what has been thought-about a make-or-break season.
Grade: B+
Jake Walman
2023-24 stats: 54 GP- 11 targets, 9 assists, 20 factors, plus-seven
Being paired up with Seider on the prime defensive pairing once more this season, Jake Walman finds himself opposing the different workforce’s prime gamers on most nights. His sport has been the reverse of Seider’s this season, as his defensive sport has not been the strongest at instances, however his offensive sport has seemed very stable at instances. As of late, the offensive sport has gone quiet for Walman in comparison with earlier on, however will seemingly be relied upon in the final 20-plus video games of the common season.
Grade: B+
Needs Improvement
Justin Holl
2023-24 stats: 35 GP- Zero targets, 5 assists, 5 factors, plus-seven
After being certainly one of the biggest contracts Yzerman gave out last offseason, Justin Holl has been unable to stay as much as that pact. He and Olli Maatta have swapped spots as the odd man out of the lineup, and he has not performed in a sport since Jan.31. There have been murmurs that Yzerman could possibly be seeking to discover a taker for Holl earlier than the commerce deadline as properly.
Grade: D
Ville Husso
2023-24 stats: 19 GP (18 begins)- 9-5-2 report, .892 SV%, 3.55 GAA
Entering the season, there have been excessive hopes {that a} wholesome Husso would result in extra consistency between the pipes for the Red Wings, however that “healthy” half has not been the case. Husso has twice fought lower-body accidents and is at present out as soon as once more. When wholesome, Husso performed streaky in web for the workforce and didn’t appear to be the goalie that Yzerman and the workforce had anticipated him to be.
There have been instances when he has seemed rock stable and others when he has struggled mightily. Luckily for the workforce, Lyon has been the nice shock he has this season and has been in a position to take over for Husso.
Grade: C
Klim Kostin
2023-24 stats: 32 GP- Three targets, one help, 4 factors, minus-one
After a stable season with the Edmonton Oilers, Klim Kostin was introduced in by the Red Wings in a draft-day commerce with hopes he would be capable to translate his good offensive sport and grittiness into a job with the workforce. But between the mixture of battling the harm bug and never with the ability to play at a excessive sufficient stage, he has not been the success that Yzerman had hoped he could be.
Grade: C-
Jeff Petry
2023-24 stats: 51 GP- Two targets, 16 assists, 18 factors, plus-four
In a shocking transfer by many in the offseason that noticed Jeff Petry come to the Red Wings, he has not turn into a fan-favorite amongst the Red Wings devoted. While he has proven some flashes of first rate offensive play, he has struggled defensively for the most half.
Grade: C-
Exciting Finish Ahead for the Red Wings
The first 60 video games of the common season noticed loads of thrilling moments, however the actual pleasure could possibly be forward of the workforce and its followers. If they will proceed the method they’ve performed for many of the season, they may discover themselves in the playoffs once more.
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