Thee Official 2023-2024 Detroit Red Wings Thread: The best of times and worst of times in shocking proximity

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Wings signed Shai Buium, now they just need to win the lottery so they can draft his brother

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I was a little worried that he wouldn’t sign

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Blueline grades:

Shayne Gostisbehere B-: I don't know how to balance Ghost's top-15 defenseman production (56 points, including five assists in the last two games) with his need to be sheltered defensively (65% offensive zone starts vs. 39% for Seider), his propensity for flubs on the PP in the back half of the season, and his brain-farts defensively. Perhaps that's just the Coffey Conundrum that comes with offensive defenseman: "he led the team in defensive scoring and I'll be relieved if he doesn't return." I don't know who fills his role on the PP if he leaves, but Seider's a safer bet back there and one of Walman, Edvinsson, or UFA defenseman could fill in for him.
Moritz Seider B+: The discourse on whether Seider's doing well in a truly thankless role or over his head in unfair deployment is exhausting, but he was the team's best defenseman in any case. He stepped up against top players, he gets his shot through, he blocks everything in sight, and he's physical. Ideally as Edvinsson fully comes on and the next wave of defensive prospects makes the other pairings less terrifying to use in tough spots, he'll have an easier load and excel in it.
Jeff Petry D+: I don't know if it's fair to make Petry the whipping boy for the Wings' defensive failures this season, as the other guys had plenty of issues, but Petry was the most frustrating in total. The first shift last night he corralled two dump-ins and lost both of them, with a good scoring chance coming for the Habs. That game against the SNES in Sweden was almost comical in terms of both Petry and Chiarot drifting out of position. I was amazed that he avoided being scratched more often. He had his positive moments from time to time and can eat minutes, but I'd much rather have a young defenseman making those mistakes.
Jake Walman B: Twelve goals in 61 games, still had some Griddy swagger, but not quite as good of a year defensively as last season. Being paired with Seider for most of it means he had brutal deployment as well, didn't get as much PP time with Gostisbehere around, either.
Ben Chiarot C+: Generally better than last year, figured out how to be tough on the PK and after the whistle without taking a penalty every time, but still prone to coverage errors.
Olli Maatta B: Covered for Gostisbehere for most of the season, which must be thankless work. I'm surprised he had 18 points. Overall a solid defensive defenseman.
Justin Holl C-: Looked good against weaker opponents, got exposed against top forwards. Fell out of favor in the last few months, I expect a trade or a buyout. I think they needed Petry or Holl, not both, although the blueline was "fortunate" that these guys stayed healthy.
Simon Edvinsson B+: Made more mistakes in the final few games, but during his second call-up, he was clearly the Wings' second-best defenseman. He has a lot more offense to contribute.

[Grand Moff Larkin]

[deep sigh] It's grading time

Lucas Raymond A: He became a star in the last month, scoring huge goals at huge times, and it doesn't feel like he hit his ceiling. Still best with Larkin but was able to carry his own line for stretches.
Dylan Larkin A-: Missed 14 games, which was one of the reasons the Wings missed the playoffs, as he's clearly the engine of this team. New career high in goals. Still gets hot-headed at times, especially when someone takes a shot at his neck / back, which I understand but he needs to be on the ice.
Alex DeBrincat B-: He basically ended up with the same stat line as last year, aside from going from -31 to +1 in +/-. Goalscorers are streaky and inherently frustrating because of that, and DeBrincat had a bunch of assists during his drought over the last few months of the season, so he wasn't entirely a passenger. But he seemed like he'd coast to 40 goals after the first month of the season and that did not happen. Too deferential to Kane when they were on a line together, I think having him with Larkin and Raymond was a better choice. Still can't complain about trading Bertuzzi's pending-UFA contract, Dominik Kubalik, and loose change for a legit top-six forward.
JT Compher B: When he signed that contract the theory was that he wouldn't repeat his scoring numbers from Colorado with a lesser supporting cast, and while 48 points in 77 games doesn't blow the doors off the hinges, it's almost exactly the pace he had last year. High-floor, low-ceiling 2C. Great on the PK with Copp. Seemingly went through all possible linemates, especially when Larkin was out, and I'm not sure if he ever found his guys.
Patrick Kane A-: For 2.75 million and no acquisition cost, they got 47 points in 50 games. I don't care for the dude, but this was the best possible outcome when they signed him considering how rough he looked in the playoffs last year for the Rangers. He gave the team a certain swagger that it lacked. Does he backcheck? No. Did he get worn out a bit at the very end of the season? Yes. But it was clear that they were a better team with him on it. He seemed to love being in Detroit and I think he'll return, albeit for more money.
David Perron C+: 47 points in 76 games isn't a huge drop-off from 56/82 the previous season, but the David Perron Experience was noticeably tougher this year. He regularly took offensive zone penalties, often late in games, his even-strength performance was frequently uninspired, and he simply didn't score as many goals. The blast to tie the final game ruled and he's still great at maintaining possession along the boards on the PP, but ideally if he comes back, it's in a third-line role at half the price.
Daniel Sprong B: Not sure how to grade Sprong, who scored 18 goals / 43 points for two million dollars, but really wasn't up for the grind at the end of the season. I don't think he'll be back but I hope they can get production from a rookie in his spot next year.
Michael Rasmussen B: Continues to take baby steps offensively. Had some down stretches in terms of engagement, still hoping he finds another level of physical intensity. Becoming an important match-up forward, though, and could hit 20 goals 40 points next year.
Andrew Copp C-: Plays tough defensive minutes, kills penalties, but having the same amount of points as Rasmussen with a 5.625 cap hit is... not ideal.
Joe Veleno C+: Continues to tick up in points, has stretches where he's feeling it offensively. Not bad for a fourth-line center who can move up if necessary, but definitely not a guy who should be with Kane and DeBrincat, for example.
Christian Fischer B-: Solid defensive forward, scored a few big goals, killed penalties. Helped give the third line an identity.
Jonatan Berggren B-: Six points in twelve games, but also had some bad giveaways that kind of proved why the Wings didn't have him up all year. A candidate to replace Sprong's role / production, but more likely traded.
Klim Kostin D: It did not work out, with four points in 33 games, and I think he was frustrated about not getting better deployment. 10 points in 18 games for the Sharks, so maybe he's right, or maybe the Sharks are dogshit and didn't care about his -10 in those games. A whiff by Yzerman.
Austin Czarnik D-: Can you knock the hustle? Yes. He played 34 games, got one assist. They played him with Kane and DeBrincat at times! The forward version of Brian Lashoff. I will be disappointed if I see him in a Wings uniform again.
Zach Aston-Reese D: He only played three games, would have rather called up a young player.

Whoops forgot Christian Fischer

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Alex Lyon B-: Lyon had 39 NHL games scattered over six years of previous action. He played in 44 this year, including 25/28 at one point. He was fantastic in January (.923, 2.54) and couldn't win a game in March. Without him, they would not have been in the playoff chase, but he 100% got worn out from overuse. He's the best of these goalies but he should be a 30-35 game backup.
James Reimer C: His stats were a tick worse than Lyon, but it's the moments that killed Reimer. Ducking from Stutzle's batted-in puck. Tackling a Ranger for a penalty in OT. However many other totally egregious goals he gave up. And if they'd made the playoffs, he might've been the starter!
Ville Husso D+: Not sure what's the bigger surprise: that the Wings' ostensible starting goaltender appeared in 19 total games, with only nine minutes of game time in the 2024 calendar year, or that his GAA and SV% were markedly worse than the other regular goalies? I don't know what his deal is moving forward, he has one more year but can you count on him? Either to be healthy or good?
Michael Hutchinson B-: He stopped 33/36 while losing his one start against NJ a few days before Christmas. Could be worse?

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Edvinsson's assigned to GR for their playoff run

Considering driving out for a game

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Grand Rapids is up 2-1 on Rockford in the AHL playoffs, had a real stinker of a game two but Berggren won it in OT last night to regain the series lead. My gut is that he's traded in the offseason (Seattle, maybe?) and becomes a 50 point player.

Kasper scored, too.

[Cacophony]

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I'm pretty psyched about him, although I guess Yzerman said he'd stay in Sweden next year and he'd presumably need (at least) a year in the AHL before getting NHL games in.

[Grand Moff Larkin]

SNES all in on Travis Green?