Returning Forwards
Player
Rating
GP
G
A
PTS
CF%
Cap Hit
Henrik Zetterberg
81.62
45
16
32
48
53.3%
$6.083M
Gustav Nyquist
77.29
57
28
20
48
54.5%
$950K
Pavel Datsyuk
77.12
45
17
20
37
55.7%
$7.5M
Johan Franzen
72.53
54
16
25
41
51.2%
$3.955M
Darren Helm
68.14
42
12
8
20
52.8%
$2.125M
Justin Abdelkader
64.83
70
10
18
28
50.7%
$1.8M
Joakim Andersson
60.79
65
8
9
17
49.9%
$733K
Drew Miller
60.50
82
7
8
15
48.8%
$1.35M
Luke Glendening
56.22
56
1
6
7
46.2%
$628K
Stephen Weiss
55.37
26
2
2
4
41.6%
$4.9M
Free Agent Forwards
Player
Rating
GP
G
A
PTS
CF%
Class
13-14 Cap Hit
Daniel Alfredsson
70.96
68
18
31
49
51.3%
UFA
$5.5M
Tomas Tatar
68.36
73
19
20
39
56.3%
RFA
$840K
David Legwand
67.39
83
14
37
51
49.5%
UFA
$4.5M
Riley Sheahan
66.47
42
9
15
24
56.4%
RFA
$900K
Todd Bertuzzi
60.56
59
9
7
16
49.5%
UFA
$2.075M
Dan Cleary
57.33
52
4
4
8
47.3%
UFA
$1.75M
Mikael Samuelsson
56.48
26
1
2
3
50.8%
UFA
$1.8M
Its a shame that back problems sidelined Henrik Zetterberg for a good
portion of the season, because he was productive as ever, playing a
career-high 20:33 per game, with his 1.07 points per game his best since
2007-2008. Since 2005-2006, Zetterberg is one of nine players to play
at least 500 games and average better than a point per game. Hes also
one of the all-timers in puck possession metrics and remains effective
in that regard even though he consistently faces the highest-quality
opposition.
Its one thing for the Wings to be missing Zetterberg for a significant
amount of time, but to also lose Pavel Datsyuk for 37 games, thanks to a
degenerative knee. While Zetterberg scored more last season, Datsyuk
actually comes in ahead of Zetterberg on a couple of the above lists
(points per game, Corsi%). Its worth noting that the Wings took it
easier on Datsyuk last season, with more offensive zone starts and
easier quality of competition than he faced previously. These could be
the kind of allowances you make for a supremely-skilled 35-year-old who
is grinding through injury, but Datsyuk also averaged 20:16 of ice time
per game, his highest since 2009-2010, so its not like he was relegated
to a lesser role.
Absurdly demoted to the AHL at the start of last season, because the Red
Wings had bottled up their roster with too many veterans under
contract, Gustav Nyquist ripped through the AHL for 21 points in 15
games before getting recalled and he was one of the leagues hottest
goal-scorers, going on a stretch from January 20 through April 2 during
which he scored 23 goals in 28 games. There is no reason to believe that
Nyquist will continue to be an 18% shooter, so get ready for
regression, but dont dismiss him altogether. Hes got great jets, is a
top-shelf possession player and has the offensive track record
(including 143 points in 137 AHL games) so that Nyquist has to enter
next season with high expectations.
Concussions cost Johan Franzen many of the 28 games that he missed last
year and while there are some indications that the 34-year-olds play is
slipping, Franzen has put up better than 0.70 points per game for six
straight seasons, including 0.76 last season. His best years are behind
him, but Mule can still be a useful complement to Datsyuk, a spot that
has been a good place for him for many years.
Injuries have threatened to derail Darren Helms career, but the speedy
checking centre battled back to play a mostly regular role once he
returned to action. He still missed time with a groin injury and a
concussion, but Helm proved to be a valuable contributor, though a tad
fortunate considering that his shooting percentage (14.5%) was double
his previous career rate.
A hard-nosed winger with limited offensive upside, Justin Abdelkader did
score a career-high 28 points last season, playing a career-high 15:17
per game. The issue with those scoring totals, however, is that
Abdelkader spent most of his time playing with highly-skilled players
(Zetterberg, Nyquist and datsyuk were among his most common linemates)
so there is some offensive opportunity cost to playing him in that role
too often.
Joakim Andersson has worked his way into a regular spot in the lineup,
but was as unlucky as anyone in the Detroit lineup last season, coming
in on the low end of both on-ice shooting and save percentages.
Despite minimal offensive production, Drew Miller has played all but
four games over the past two seasons. He also plays more -- a
career-high 14:08 last season -- than his possession numbers might
typically warrant.
An undrafted free agent, Luke Glendening quickly earned the trust of the
Red Wings coaching staff though hes not very productive and gets
thumped in possession terms.
It was easy enough to write off Stephen Weisss 2012-2013 season due to
the wrist surgery that he required, and he had several suitors as a free
agent last summer, but his first season in Detroit was a disaster, and
his production over the past two seasons is in the neighbourhood of
fourth-line enforcers. Would the Red Wings be willing to stomach a buy
out on a contract that has four years and $20.5-million remaining? If
not, theyre really hoping for a dramatic turnaround.
A first-round pick in 2010, Riley Sheahan was a useful contributor upon
getting called up to Detroit. He wont be able to sustain the percentages
that contributed to his goal and point production, but he was a solid
possession performer too, and that will work in any circumstances.
Overshadowed by Nyquist, Tomas Tatar was the Red Wings second-leading
goal-scorer in his first full season. His usage tilted the ice in his
favour, but Tatar delivered strong possession numbers too and, like
Nyquist, has to be counted on as an offensive producer going forward.
There are more options to fill out Detroits forward ranks. Prospect
Tomas Jurco split last season between Detroit and Grand Rapids;
Daniel Alfredsson is an unrestricted free agent and, with so many young
players on the roster, the Wings have loads of cap room should they wish
to trade for the likes of Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Ryan Kesler or sign
free agents like Paul Stastny, Thomas Vanek, Jarome Iginla or
Marian Gaborik.
Returning Defence
Player
Rating
GP
G
A
PTS
CF%
Cap Hit
Niklas Kronwall
73.14
79
8
41
49
51.9%
$4.75M
Brendan Smith
63.93
71
5
14
19
53.9%
$1.263M
Jakub Kindl
63.73
66
2
17
19
51.6%
$2.4M
Jonathan Ericsson
62.74
48
1
10
11
51.7%
$4.25M
Brian Lashoff
56.35
75
1
5
6
50.4%
$725K
Free Agent Defence
Player
Rating
GP
G
A
PTS
CF%
Class
13-14 Cap Hit
Danny DeKeyser
65.44
65
4
19
23
49.0%
RFA
$1.35M
Kyle Quincey
60.59
82
4
9
13
49.7%
UFA
$3.775M
Niklas Kronwall has played big minutes for the Wings and has top-tier
possession stats. A mobile puck-mover who delivers some of the most
devastating hits in the league, Kronwall is the clear-cut number one on a
unit that, generally, lacks experience.
Brendan Smith has the skill to play a bigger role and saw more minutes
late in the year and into the playoffs, but he has not displayed the
same offensive production that he had in the AHL or at the University of
Wisconsin. Nevertheless, there is an opportunity for 25-year-old Smith,
who has been a solid possession player, to seize playing time on the
Detroit blueline
Its been a gradual process for Jakub Kindl to establish himself as a
regular on the Detroit blueline and hes managed to put up decent
possession numbers in the past couple seasons as Detroit shelters his
usage, with relatively easy competition and more offensive zone starts.
Jonathan Ericsson has been thrust into a prominent role, playing more
than 21 minutes per game over the past two seasons. Ericssons flawed,
but manages to put up decent possession numbers while facing
high-quality opposition.
An inexpensive depth defenceman who worked his way up as an undrafted
free agent, Brian Lashoff continues to improve and while hes not pushing
for top-four minutes, there is room for Lashoff to hold the sixth spot
on the Wings blueline.
Though he played more than 21 minutes per game as a rookie, and faced
quality opposition, Danny DeKeyser was on the ice for more shot attempts
against than for during 5-on-5 play. Hes a fluid skater and can move
the puck, but DeKeyser needs to continue to improve if hes going to hold
down a spot in the Wings top four.
The Wings will have the cap room to spend if they decide that a
defensive upgrade is prudent. Free agents like Andrei Markov or
Dan Boyle might provide value, in that they wont necessarily require a
long term, but would be able to contribute while Datsyuk and Zetterberg
are still capable of keeping the Wings in playoff contention.
Returning Goaltender
Player
Rating
GP
W
L
OTL
GAA
SV%
Cap Hit
Jimmy Howard
71.09
51
21
19
11
2.66
.910
$5.292M
Free Agent Goaltender
Player
Rating
GP
W
L
OTL
GAA
SV%
Class
13-14 Cap Hit
Jonas Gustavsson
63.72
27
16
5
4
2.63
.907
UFA
$1.5M
Jimmy Howards .910 save percentage last season was the second-lowest of
his career but, over the past five seasons, he ranks above average, with
a .917 save percentage. The Wings have cast their lost with Howard, for
the time being, it seems, as hes signed for five more seasons. Any
changes in goal would require finding a landing spot for Howard.
The heir apparent for the Red Wings number one goaltending job,
Petr Mrazek has done nothing to diminish that expectation. He has a .919
save percentage in 74 AHL games and a .926 save percentage in 11 NHL
games. Thats enough to get first crack at the backup gig next season.
Top Prospects
Player
Pos.
Team/League
Stats
Anthony Mantha
RW
Val dOr (QMJHL)
57-63-120, +34, 57 GP
Tomas Jurco
RW
Grand Rapids (AHL)
13-19-32, +10, 32 GP
Xavier Ouellet
D
Grand Rapids (AHL)
4-13-17, +3, 70 GP
Petr Mrazek
G
Grand Rapids (AHL)
2.10 GAA, .924 SV%, 32 GP
Mattias Backman
D
Linkopings (SHL)
6-15-21, +25, 54 GP
Ryan Sproul
D
Grand Rapids (AHL)
11-21-32, even, 72 GP
Teemu Pulkkinen
RW
Grand Rapids (AHL)
31-28-59, +18, 71 GP
Andreas Athanasiou
LW
Barrie (OHL)
49-46-95, +25, 66 GP
Mattias Janmark-Nylen
C
AIK (SHL)
18-12-30, -6, 45 GP
Adam Almqvist
D
Grand Rapis (AHL)
4-49-53, +9, 73 GP
Alexei Marchenko
D
Grand Rapids (AHL)
3-15-18, +11, 49 GP
Mitch Callahan
RW
Grand Rapids (AHL)
26-18-44, +23, 70 GP
The 20th pick in 2013 Anthony Mantha went off on the Quebec Major Junior
Hockey Hockey League last season, finishing with 158 points (81 G, 77
A) in 81 (regular season plus playoff) games. Hes big and can put the
puck in the net. Since this is the Red Wings, Mantha is going to start
in the AHL, but his rise could be quick.
A second-round pick in 2011, Tomas Jurco has good size and brilliant
puck skills, breaking out in his second pro season, scoring a
point-per-game in the AHL, then adding eight goals and 15 points, with
excellent possession stats, in 36 NHL games. Barring a roster crunch,
Jurco should be in the NHL next season.
Another second rounder from 2011, Xavier Ouellet has impressed with his
heady play and earned a four-game audition with the Wings last season.
He didnt look out of place and could challenge for a spot as soon as
next season.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2010, Petr Mrazek has been consistently
strong since then, with Ottawa in the OHL, the Czech Republic in the
World Juniors and with Grand Rapids in the AHL. The 22-year-old could be
ready for an NHL job; then the question will be how soon hes ready to
push for the No. 1 spot.
Selected in the fifth round in 2011, Mattias Backman is a smooth,
puck-moving defenceman who joined Grand Rapids following a strong year
in Sweden. He could get stronger and will have to get used to the North
American game, but the 21-year-old may not be far away from earning a
look.
A talented player with a big shot from the point, Ryan Sproul was a
second-round pick in 2011. He can refine his play without the puck, but
the raw package is intriguing.
Picked in the fourth round in 2010, Teemu Pulkkinen had a very strong
first year in North America, putting up 36 goals and 70 points in 81
(regular season plus playoff) AHL games and getting a three-game trial
with the Wings. There are a lot of young forwards that have just cracked
the Detroit roster, which makes Pulkkinens quest more challenging.
A fourth-round pick in 2012, Andreas Athanasiou is a gifted offensive
player with size and skill, but will need time to work on his two-way
play before he might contend for a spot in Detroit.
A late bloomer who was a third-round pick last summer,
Mattias Janmark-Nylen has put up a couple of strong seasons in the
Swedish Hockey League, and the 21-year-old will need to show he can do
it in North America before expectations get raised too much.
Continuing the run of mid-to-late-round selections that have climbed the
Wings prospect ranks, 2009 seventh-rounder Adam Almqvist has tallied 84
points in 141 AHL games over the past two years. Hes on the small side,
but the ability of defenders to move the puck is increasingly valuable.
Another seventh-rounder, from 2011, Alexei Marchenko had a solid first
year in North America, even getting a game with the Red Wings. He has
good size and could develop into a stay-at-home defender.
Drafted in the sixth round in 2009, Mitch Callahan is an agitator coming
off a productive AHL season. His ceiling isnt high, but he could earn a
look on the fourth line.
Red Wings advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater
DRAFT15th - Kevin Fiala, Alex Tuch, Sonny Milano.
FREE AGENCYAccording to www.capgeek.com, the Red Wings have
approximately $48.7M committed to the 2014-2015 salary cap for 16
players.
Check out my possible Red Wings lineup for next season on Cap Geek here.
Needs: Two top nine forwards, two top four defencemen, backup
goaltender.What I said the Red Wings needed last year: Two top six
forwards, one top-pair defenceman.They added: Daniel Alfredsson,
Tomas Tatar, Joakim Andersson, Stephen Weiss.
TRADE MARKETJohan Franzen, Tomas Jurco, Joakim Andersson, Jakub Kindl,
Brendan Smith.
Scott Cullen can be reached at [email protected] and followed on
Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN
Fantasy on Facebook.
Cheap Ricardo Allen Jersey . The journeyman goaltender can only go by what hes told."Probably the main reason why I havent gotten a game while Ive been up is because I dont have NHL experience," MacIntyre said. Womens Matt Ryan Jersey . -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has a broken bone
below his right eye after being struck by a bad-hop grounder, sidelining
the star slugger for at least a week with opening day on deck.AUBURN
HILLS, Mich. -- Hours before John Loyer made his debut as Detroits
interim coach, Chauncey Billups offered a preview.
"Hes always very energetic at all times," Billups said. "I dont know
what were going to do in second halves because he wont have a voice. He
always loses his voice in the first half."
Billups assessment was spot on, at least through one game. Loyer coached
the Pistons to a 109-100 win over San Antonio on Monday, yelling out
instructions in a raspy voice from the sideline on a night his team led
comfortably for the entire second half.
It was an immediate contrast to the mild-mannered Maurice Cheeks, the
coach the Pistons fired a day earlier.
Of course, sideline demeanours can be deceiving -- and Loyer was careful
not to take too much credit for the teams sharp performance against the
Spurs.
"Its not about me," he said. "Im just glad our guys played hard."
Loyer was in his third season as an assistant for the Pistons when he
was abruptly promoted after Cheeks dismissal. He was a holdover from
Lawrence Franks staff, remaining in the fold after Cheeks was hired last
off-season.
Loyer has also been an assistant for the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia
76ers and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Pistons scored 26 points off turnovers against San Antonio and led
by as many as 23.
"Certain events happened that are beyond our control, but we were able
to come out and focus on playing basketball," forward Josh Smith said.
"We came out with a big win against a great team."
Loyer takes over the Pistons at a time when patience is growing thin.
Detroit signed Smith and traded for Brandon Jennings in the off-season,
but the rresults have been mixed at best. Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey.
Even after beating San Antonio, the Pistons are 22-29. They were tied
for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday
night.
Detroit had won four of six when Cheeks was let go, so its hard to tell
if the win Monday could be attributed at all to the coaching change.
Jennings played well for Loyer -- just as he did in the last couple
games under Cheeks.
"The last four out of six, weve still been playing the same way,"
Jennings said after the win over San Antonio. "Were just trying to keep
it going."
Cheeks, a former point guard, was given the task of mentoring Jennings,
but Jennings says he can still look to Billups for veteran guidance.
Jennings performance down the stretch may make or break Detroits playoff
chances.
Jennings made a point of saying that Cheeks was like a father figure to
him, but he hopes to stay in the offensive groove hes found over the
past few games.
"Im back to having fun, instead of just taking everything so personally
and thinking about too much," Jennings said. "Im just hooping."
Detroit hosts Cleveland on Wednesday, then plays a home-and-home with
Charlotte -- another team in the mix for the post-season in the East. So
the Pistons will have a chance to build on their recent success and
create some positive vibes right away for their new coach.
"Change for changes sake doesnt do much," Loyer said. "Anybody can
change. We need positive change, and I thought our guys came out and had
great effort (Monday night), great determination. You try to set a
little bit of a tone every day. Thankfully, our guys, they set the
tone."
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