The Red Wings knew over the summer they needed more goalscoring up and down the lineup, and the midseason returns show that they've gotten it

Last offseason, the Detroit Red Wings knew that taking meaningful steps up the Atlantic Division standings would require an uptick in scoring.  The '22-23 Red Wings finished 24th in the NHL in goals at 2.89 per game.

"We'd like to score more," said general manager Steve Yzerman back on July 3rd.  "I think that's the general consensus 'hey, the Red Wings need to score more.' We need to keep the puck out of net. We need to be better defensively. We'd like our special teams to be better. I'm counting on collectively the entire group, the roster that we have now, to chip in a little bit on the offense, which'll help us score more. Getting Robby Fabbri back healthy, Lucas Raymond a year older, J.T. Compher coming into the mix chipping in some goals. Collectively, I expect us to improve a little bit."

At the time Yzerman spoke, he'd already brought in Compher, Daniel Sprong, and Shayne Gostisbehere via free agency, and less than a week later, he would reaffirm his commitment to adding scoring when he swung a trade with the Ottawa Senators to acquire Alex DeBrincat.

50 games into the regular season, those efforts have already borne fruit.  Detroit is up to a tie for sixth in the NHL in scoring at 3.48 goals-per game, and no NHL team has more goals by players who weren't with that club last year at 63.

DeBrincat is at the top of that chart with 18, followed by Sprong (13) and Compher (11).  And, to supplement those summer acquisitions, the Red Wings brought in Patrick Kane, who has wasted little time in chipping in offense with seven goals in just 19 games with Detroit to date.

Simply put, Yzerman achieved his offseason objective of increasing the Red Wings' offensive firepower to a degree few expected entering the season.

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