Detroit Red Wings roster: Who's back, who's not, and who's in between next season
Helene St. JamesThe Detroit Red Wings were three weeks from the end of their miserable 2019-20 season when the NHL hit the pause button.
Saturday would have been the season finale, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Wings were eliminated from the playoffs Feb. 21, and would have had plenty of time to schedule a day this week to clean out their lockers and gather for the traditional on-ice group photo that marks the end of the season.
The picture would be the first with Steve Yzerman as their general manager.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a look at who’ll be back next season and who’ll be gone from the roster as it stood March 12, when the league put the season hold.
F Justin Abdelkader
The evidence: He’s signed at a $4.25 million cap hit through 2022-23, making a buyout prohibitive (six years at annual cap hits ranging from $1.55 million to $2.35 million). Given his decline (22 points in 122 games the past two seasons, no points since Oct. 23), the most likely scenario is Abdelkader is waived and demoted.
The 33-year-old would still draw his NHL salary, but the Wings would gain a little north of $1 million in cap relief — plus a roster spot, maybe one Evgeny Svechnikov could claim.
The verdict: Gone (from the roster, not the payroll).
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G Jonathan Bernier
The evidence: Put up a .915 save percentage and 2.72 goals-against average since Dec. 15, giving his teammates a chance to win every game. He’s their MVP.
The verdict: Enters next season as the bona fide starter.
Tyler Bertuzzi
The evidence: The restricted free agent matched his career high in goals (21) and set a career high with 48 points. The 25-year-old restricted free agent is skilled and gritty and a big part of the rebuild.
The verdict: He’ll be back with a long-term deal.
Alex Biega
The evidence: Acquired in a trade in October, the five-year veteran earned a spot in the rotation on the strength of hard work and dependability. The 31-year-old is perfect for the rebuild: inexpensive ($875,000), and reliable in the lineup as a third-pair guy or as a reserve.
The verdict: Already earned an extension through next season.
D Madison Bowey
The evidence: He put up 17 points on a team that sorely lacked offense from the back end, but he didn’t show the growth in his own zone the Wings wanted to see. Bowey, 24, cleared waivers in December, but was called up to offset injuries. He’s an RFA coming off a $1 million deal, so qualifying him would be cheap.
The verdict: Probably back, but might not last long.
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D Trevor Daley
The evidence: Veteran struggled with health and performance.
The verdict: Gone.
D Danny DeKeyser
The evidence: He lasted eight games before succumbing to a back injury that eventually required surgery. He’s one of the team’s workhorses and top penalty killers.
The verdict: He has a spot in the top four awaiting his good health.
F Christoffer Ehn
The evidence: A serviceable and inexpensive ($759,167) grinder who can play center or wing and kill penalties. He's an RFA coming off his entry-level contract.
The verdict: Will be back with an extension.
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D Jonathan Ericsson
The evidence: The 12-year veteran has struggled with health and performance.
The verdict: Gone.
F Adam Erne
The evidence: He was expected to generate a little more offense (two goals — from the same game — among five points) but Yzerman traded for him, and he does bring physicality. He's an RFA coming off a $1.05 million cap hit.
The verdict: Will be back with an extension.
F Robby Fabbri
The evidence: Yzerman’s best trade joined the team in early November and scored two goals in his debut; ranks fourth on the team with 31 points in 52 games. Earned a spot in the top six and power-play time.
The verdict: Will be back with a mid- to long-term extension.
F Valtteri Filppula
The evidence: Wasn’t as effective as hoped for (21 points, minus-42 in 70 games) but he’s another one of Yzerman’s acquisitions.
The verdict: Signed through next season for $3 million, could be traded at deadline.
F Sam Gagner
The evidence: The 13-year veteran was acquired at the trade deadline. Didn’t have much time (six games) with Wings, but he’s a leader who fits in well in the locker room and won’t complain if he’s a healthy scratch.
The verdict: Could be back on one-year deal.
F Luke Glendening
The evidence: As with most of his teammates, his numbers disappointed (nine points, minus-29 in 60 games) but he’s a hard worker, locker-room leader and can play center or wing.
The verdict: Entering the last year of his contract, could be traded at deadline.
D Cody Goloubef
The evidence: Claimed off waivers Feb. 21; he played two games, then was a healthy scratch. Unrestricted free agent coming off $800,000 contract.
The verdict: Gone.
F Darren Helm
The evidence: Put up 16 points and deserves credit for being a minus-6 on a team with a minus-122 goal differential.
The verdict: Signed through next season at a $3.85 million cap hit, he’s another guy who could be traded at the deadline.
G Jimmy Howard
The evidence: The 11-year veteran and two-time All-Star finished with his career-worst season, going 2-23-2 with a 4.20 goals-against average (worst in the NHL among goalies who have played at least 15 games) and a .882 save percentage.
The 36-year-old hasn’t won a game since Oct. 29, and was pulled his last two starts. He’s got a good sense of humor, and maybe can find a post-career gig in broadcasting.
The verdict: Gone.
D Filip Hronek
The evidence: Emerged as team’s top d-man in the absence of DeKeyser, and handled himself well (31 points in 65 games, was minus-38 but he played against every opponent’s top line) especially considering it was only the 22-year-old’s second NHL season.
The verdict: Entering last year of his entry-level contract, he’s on the path to a long-term extension.
F Dylan Larkin
The evidence: Led team with 53 points and was the only player besides Bertuzzi to play all 71 games. Had ups and downs like everyone else, but this is his team now.
The verdict: Has earned the honor to start next season as captain.
D Gustav Lindstrom
The evidence: Called up in early February, the 21-year-old showed smart instincts in 16 games.
The verdict: He has shown he can play in the NHL but he also can be sent to the minors without waivers, and more development time wouldn’t hurt.
F Anthony Mantha
The evidence: His argument for a lucrative long-term deal was interrupted by a knee injury and a punctured lung that cost him 28 games, but his 38 points in 43 games yields a team-leading .883 points-per-game average. He’s a big, scoring winger crucial to the rebuild.
The verdict: The 25-year-old RFA, will be back either on a one-year or long-term deal.
D Patrik Nemeth
The evidence: He did what Yzerman signed him to do, which was be a defender and penalty killer.
The verdict: Could be a good fit with partner Moritz Seider next season.
F Frans Nielsen
The evidence: The 35-year-old disappointed with just nine points in 60 games. He’s signed through 2021-22 at a $5.25 million cap hit, so he's too costly to buy out.
The verdict: He’s still a good skater, so there’s hope he can rebound.
F Brendan Perlini
The evidence: Acquired via trade in October, the Wings hoped the former first-round pick (12th overall, 2014) would take advantage of top-six minutes and power-play time, but Perlini managed just four points in 40 games. He’s restricted coming off a deal making $874,125, so tending him a qualifying offer would be cheap, but he has been a disappointment.
The verdict: Most likely gone.
F Dmytro Timashov
The evidence: Claimed off waivers in February as a reclamation project. Appeared in five games but showed signs there’s grit and skill to be nurtured.
The verdict: The RFA will be back with a short-term extension.
F Filip Zadina
The evidence: A rare bright spot, he ranked fourth on the team with 15 points since being called up Nov. 24. Physically stronger and having benefited from time in Grand Rapids, the 20-year-old looks like a solid rebuilding block.
The verdict: Has earned a shot at starting next season in the top six.
Coach Jeff Blashill
The evidence: Yzerman has been emphatic he does not hold Blashill responsible for the team’s 17-49-5 record, pointing to injuries and limited talent on the roster. Still, the Wings have missed the playoffs four straight years under Blashill, and Yzerman is likely to make a change.
His former linemate, Gerard Gallant, has been available since January after the Vegas Golden Knights dismissed him. Yzerman’s former roommate, Lane Lambert, is an assistant with the New York Islanders. Those are believed to be the two leading candidates Yzerman is considering to be the next Wings coach.
The verdict: Most likely gone as coach, but might be offered a different job in organization.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.