Will This Year Be the Year When the Red Wings' Yzerplan Leads to a Playoff Spot? Don't Count On It Patrick Kane [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA3NTMzMTU5MDQ1MTQ1ODg1/usatsi_22950940_168400847_lowres.jpg] Patrick Kane In 2023-24, Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s well-known ‘Yzerplan’ finally seemed to be coming to fruition. His club came within a single point of their first post-season berth since 2015-16, with an empty-net goal in a tied game [https://thehockeynews.com/news/how-the-capitals-clinched-the-nhls-final-wild-card-spot-over-red-wings-penguins-and-flyers] between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers sealing Detroit's fate. However, after an off-season that saw some notable talent leave, the Red Wings ranked sixth in the Atlantic Division in The Hockey News Yearbook. Veterans who helped the Wings build up to this point – David Perron, Robby Fabbri and Shayne Gostisbehere – have departed, and core pieces Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider will eat up large slices of the salary cap pie once they agree on new contracts. This means more will be expected from the team's stars, while growth from within the development system will be necessary. Here are five things that will likely have to happen for the Red Wings to prove the doubters wrong this year: VETERANS STAY RELEVANT American hockey superstar Patrick Kane reinvigorated the Wings following his December 2023 debut – Detroit finished with the 15th-best regular-season record after Jan. 1. Kane’s 47 points in 50 games showed he still has game. The 35-year-old will be joined this season by two-time Stanley Cup champion Vladimir Tarasenko, who is still capable of 30 goals and 60 points in a healthy season. If Kane and Tarasenko can’t shoulder the load of their top six responsibilities, Detroit’s forward depth could get exploited by most teams in the formidable Atlantic Division. LUCAS RAYMOND CONTINUES HIS ASCENSION TO STARDOM The Wings landed Tarasenko, but they also lost some scoring this summer, from Perron to Fabbri to Daniel Sprong. Raymond’s continued ascension can ease much of any goal-scoring concern. The 2020 fourth-overall pick broke out in his third NHL season with 31 goals and 72 points, so the Wings will hope for him to establish himself as a full-fledged star in this league. He should benefit from a full season from No. 1 center Dylan Larkin, who led the Wings in goals (33) and points per game (1.01). CAM TALBOT, ALEX LYON AND VILLE HUSSO PROVIDE STABLE GOALTENDING Last season, Detroit relied on a three-man rotation of Alex Lyon, Ville Husso and James Reimer, resulting in a .897 team save percentage, per naturalstattrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/teamtable.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20232024&stype=2&sit=all&score=all&rate=n&team=all&loc=B&gpf=410&fd=&td=]. New arrival Cam Talbot, fresh off a successful season as the Los Angeles Kings’ No. 1 goalie, should bring more stability to the crease. In 2023-24, he turned in a .913 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against-average in 54 appearances. Talbot should start the season as the team’s 1A, but Lyon and Husso should push him and each other for starts as well. With three NHL-caliber goalies, the position shouldn’t be a weakness this season. SPECIAL TEAMS EXCEL AGAIN Detroit had no problems taking care of business on the power play last season, clicking 23.1 percent of the time, good for ninth in the NHL. The three teams that finished behind the Wings in the wild-card race last season, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Buffalo, all finished bottom four in the league in power-play percentage. That’s unlikely to happen again, so Detroit’s edge in this department is significant. If the team can absorb the blow of losing Shayne Gostisbehere and Perron’s 46 combined power-play points, they should remain a potent unit. The Wings are banking on new guys Tarasenko and Erik Gustafsson to replace those contributions. Tarasenko and Gustafsson each recorded nine power-play points last season with limited special teams deployment. The penalty kill was also a strong suit in 2023-24, finishing 14th in the league. Bringing in experienced defensive forward Tyler Motte and re-signing Christian Fischer should help keep pucks out of the net. SIMON EDVINSSON IS A REVELATION ON THE BLUELINE The sixth-overall selection from 2021 is NHL-ready. In 54 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Edvinsson posted eight goals and 30 points and parlayed that into a 16-game NHL stint where he helped the Wings push for the playoffs. With the departure of frequent top-pairing D-man Jake Walman, there’s an opportunity for Edvinsson to not only play the whole year in Detroit but even surpass veterans Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta on the depth chart to take up the left side beside Moritz Seider. Edvinsson is a rare breed of player with his uber-skilled puck-moving, graceful skating and 6-foot-6, 216-pound frame. He has all the tools to become a forceful top-pairing defender as soon as this season.
