Team: 2024-25 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jun. 1, 2024

Published: Jun. 1, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Say what you want about “mortgaging the future” but, I’d be a fool to trust Yzerman and wait for his draft picks to develop while he signs bust free agent after another, dangling a mediocre team that can’t score or play defense in front of us for the last several seasons.

He’s been mediocre at best as a GM and it’s time we aggressively built a real team.

Starting with the Marner trade; I find it very difficult to gauge what the return would need to be and/or if TOR would even choose to trade Marner to Detroit however, I think the package is a strong one. Detroit needs star power and they have lacked any offensive identity since the euro twins departed.

I’m plugging Mitch at 1C and he’d guaranteed top 100 points on that line. Between Cat, Kane & Marner somebody damn sure will top 50 goals.

Rounding out the forwards, there’s depth all the way through and guys like Copp or Compher aren’t going to need to be forced into a role they aren’t suited for like playing in the top 6. I’m bringing up Kasper - the kid can play. He looked like an NHLer the first time he stepped on the ice in the big leagues and it’s time to inject him into a position to succeed in the top 6. I put him on the wing where he can develop alongside Larkin and waste no time banging around in the bottom 6. If the kid is has a destiny to become a star, then that’s the path he needs to be on, not abusing his body on a grind line or playing against inferior competition in the minors.

As for the defense; it’s been terrible for years. Walman is certainly gifted offensively and is fun to watch at times. Unfortunately though, he’s really only fun to watch in overtime when he can really show off his wheels, otherwise he’s probably in the conversation for worst “top pair” defenseman in the league. Playing alongside Seider hid some of his shortcomings but he certainly did not belong in the top pair. An NHL top pair defenseman has no room for shortcomings, they shouldn’t have to make up for the others flaws, they should simply compliment one another. Someone like Brodin alongside Seider, would really allow both players to shine and we’d certainly see more of that surprising offense from Seider that was so prevalent in his rookie year.

Going down the rest of the D, I tried to create the most physical, defensive focused group, while also maintaining the offensive prowess and puck moving ability, which I think each player from top to bottom at the very least possesses the latter.

The defense pairings I made are complimentary to playing styles. Pesce, a defensive focused veteran should be a good match for the dynamic & offensively gifted Edvinsson, and the physicality, skill & familiarity between Xhekaj & Petry could end up being one of the better 3rd pairings in the entire league.

As far as goaltending goes - Silovs is who I’m keen on, however, I’m not convinced VAN has much motivation to move him, especially if he comes at that price (I used Kochetkov as contract comp) but, I think it may be enticing to VAN to potentially add the offensively gifted Walman at a reasonable price with a few of their defenseman potentially departing.

Anyhow, if not Silovs, then another short term solution at goaltender on a 2-3 year deal to bridge us to Cossa.

PS: I kinda cheated on this cuz I have Chiarot on LTIR, so let’s just assume he got hit by a car leaving practice and he’s out for the year. Or maybe figure out a trade where we have to sacrifice some picks or whatever.

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