As an organization, the Detroit Red Wings needed to see improvement and growth.
General manager Steve Yzerman had patched the lineup with no-risk, savvy signings, and a 10-month layoff had distanced the Wings from the calamity that was 2019-20, when they won just 17 times in 71 games and finished in last place, 23 points behind the 30th-place team.
The challenge of playing during a pandemic was magnified less than a week into the season, when forwards Robby Fabbri, Adam Erne, Filip Zadina, Sam Gagner and defenseman Jon Merrill tested positive for COVID-19. By the time they returned to the lineup, Tyler Bertuzzi had been lost to a season-ending back injury; Bobby Ryan, Fabbri and Dylan Larkin would also not complete the season because of injuries.
Throughout the turbulence, the Wings played much better defensively as a team; there were some rough outings here and there, but there wasn’t any prolonged loss of composure. Young players showed progress, aided by the mentorship of veterans.
The result was a 19-27-10 record, which will put the Wings at no worse than 27th (final positioning is pending the Vancouver Canucks wrapping up their season May 19). Several of the younger players graded out well on final analysis, showing the rebuild is headed in the right direction.
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WAITING FOR THE CAPTAIN: Why Yzerman’s unexpected silence on Jeff Blashill shouldn’t be surprising
G Jonathan Bernier: B+
Age: 32.
Contract: Expiring with $3 million salary cap hit; unrestricted free agent.
Stats: 9-11-1, .914 save percentage, 2.99 goals-against average in 24 games
He consistently gave his teammates a chance to win, making the saves he should make as well as several highlight-reel worthy ones. Seemingly has earned a return engagement.
D Alex Biega: C
Age: 33.
Contract: Expiring with a $875,000 cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 3 assists, minus-1 rating in 13 games.
Serviceable reserve who worked hard and didn’t complain when not in the lineup.
F Tyler Bertuzzi: A-
Age: 26.
Contract: Expiring with a $3.5 million cap hit; restricted free agent.
Stats: 5 goals, 2 assists, even in 9 games.
Showed his usual grit and knack for scoring in all too short a time before a season-ending back injury. The Wings need him raring to go in fall.
F Mathias Brome: D
Age: 26.
Contract: Expiring with a $925,000 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, minus-9 rating in 26 games.
He’s a good skater but brought nothing offensively despite time in the top six and on the power play.
D Dennis Cholowski: C
Age: 23.
Contract: Expiring with a $894,166 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, minus-1 in 16 games.
Grade: He made heads-up plays that showed he belonged in the lineup, but also showed he still lacks assertiveness — often in the same game.
D Danny DeKeyser: B
Age: 31.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $5 million cap hit.
Stats: 4 goals, 8 assists, plus-3 in 47 games.
Struggled at the start after missing more than a year because of back surgery, but had a strong showing down the stretch. Led the team with 81 blocked shots.
D Christian Djoos: C-
Age: 26.
Contract: Expiring with a $1 million salary cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 2 goals, 9 assists, minus-13 in 36 games.
Waiver-wire pickup who looked good early but faded to the point he was a healthy scratch down the stretch.
F Adam Erne: B+
Age: 26.
Contract: Expiring with a $997,500 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 11 goals, 9 assists, minus-1 in 45 games.
He looked much more like the player the Wings thought they’d get when they traded for him in 2019, playing a strong game and demonstrating a knack for getting into scoring positions that led to a career high in goals.
F Robby Fabbri: B-
Age: 25.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $2.95 million cap hit.
Stats: 10 goals, 8 assists, plus-3 in 30 games.
He was diagnosed with COVID-19 before the third game, derailing a strong start. Continued to show he can be a part of the rebuild with a natural scoring instinct, but needs to work on his defense.
F Valtteri Filppula: C+
Age: 37.
Contract: Expiring with a $3 million cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 6 goals, 9 assists, minus-1 in 38 games.
Turned in a respectable performance in , providing leadership and not complaining when he was a healthy scratch all of March. Drafted by the Wings in 2002, and in the second year of his second stint with the franchise, his grade gets a little bump for what a good player he was for a long time.
F Sam Gagner: B-
Age: 31.
Contract: Expiring with a $850,000 cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 7 goals, 8 assists, minus-4 in 42 games.
Provided a solid return on a no-risk investment, fitting in on any line and embracing a role as a mentor to the younger core. Well worth bringing back.
F Luke Glendening: B+
Age: 32.
Contract: Expiring with a $1.8 million cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 6 goals, 9 assists, plus-3 in 38 games.
His 62.3% faceoff winning percentage ranked second in the NHL. (bOSTON’S Patrice Bergeron led with 62.3%.) He’s a reliable defender and penalty killer and rebounded this year with better offensive numbers.
G Thomas Greiss: B-
Age: 35.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $3.6 million cap hit.
Stats: 8-15-8, .912 save percentage, 2.70 GAA in 34 games.
He didn’t play very well the first half (.888 save percentage, 3.42 GAA in his first 22 games) but rebounded with a strong performance down the stretch, including backstopping the team to consecutive 1-0 shootout games.
F Darren Helm: C
Age: 34.
Contract: Expiring with a $3.85 million cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 3 goals, 5 assists, minus-3 in 47 games.
He was solid defensively and helped the penalty kill, but his overall contributions do not live up to his contract.
D Filip Hronek: B-
Age: 23.
Contract: Expiring with a $714,166 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 2 goals, 24 assists, minus-18 in 56 games.
He was tasked with defending top lines, he played in all situations and led the team with an average of 23:23 minutes of ice time. He was one of only two players to appear in all 56 games, and led the team in scoring.
F Dylan Larkin: C-
Age: 24.
Contract: Signed through 2022-23 at a $6.1 million cap hit.
Stats: 9 goals, 14 assists, minus-14 in 44 games.
It was a challenging time to be named captain, as teammates relied on him to sort out what pandemic protocols allowed and didn’t allow on the road. He started well, then struggled and was lost to a season-ending injury April 20. His 0.52 points-per-game average was his lowest since his second season.
D Gustav Lindstrom: C+
Age: 22.
Contract: Expiring with a $775,833 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 3 assists, plus-1 in 13 games.
Showed poise and made some good passes, but needs to work on his skating and defense.
F Vladislav Namestnikov: C-
Age: 28.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $2 million cap hit.
Stats: 8 goals, 9 assists, minus-5 in 53 games.
Wasn’t as much of a factor as hoped. Five of his goals were empty-netters. Took needless penalties at times.
F Frans Nielsen: D
Age: 37.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $5.25 million cap hit.
Stats: 1 goal, 5 assists, minus-3 in 29 games.
He was slated to start the season on the taxi squad until injuries dictated otherwise. He’s another player whose performance does not match his contract.
F Richard Panik: C
Age: 30.
Contract: Signed through 2022-23 with a $2.75 million cap hit.
Stats: 1 goal, 3 assists, even in 12 games.
Played a solid, safe game upon arrival at the trade deadline.
F Michael Rasmussen: B
Age: 22.
Contract: Expiring with a $894,166 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 3 goals, 9 assists, minus-5 in 40 games.
His improved skating and strength was noticeable, and he showed composure when, late in the season, he was given a chance to center offensive wingers. Looks promising.
F Bobby Ryan: B
Age: 34.
Contract: Expiring with a $1 million cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 6 goals, 7 assists, minus-14 in 33 games..
Created offensive chances, put himself in position to score goals and was a great mentor to the younger core. Was lost March 28 to a triceps injury. He’s another veteran worth bringing back on similar terms.
F Givani Smith: B
Age: 23.
Contract: Expiring with a $714,166 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 1 goal, 3 assists, minus-5 in 16 games.
He brought energy and physicality and fought when necessary. Would have been interesting to see what he would have done had he been in the lineup after Jamie Benn ended Larkin’s season with a cheap-shot cross-check to the neck.
D Marc Staal: B
Age: 34.
Contract: Expiring with a $5.7 million cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 3 goals, 7 assists, minus-5 in 56 games.
He and Hronek were the only players to appear in every game. Staal made lots of smart little plays, used his size to back down opponents and kept things calm. Would make sense to bring back on a short-term deal for less money.
D Troy Stecher: C-
Age: 27.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 at a $1.7 million cap hit.
Stats: 3 goals, 8 assists, minus-13 in 44 games.
Was brought in to bolster the defense, but struggled in his own end and was a healthy scratch multiple times.
F Evgeny Svechnikov: C+
Age: 24.
Contract: Expiring with a $874,125 cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 3 goals, 5 assists, minus-3 in 21 games.
Had to deal with being waived twice and knowing he doesn’t fit into the team’s future. He worked hard and found ways to produce in limited situations.
F Joe Veleno: B
Age: 21.
Contract: Signed through 2022-23 at a $894,167 cap hit.
Stats: 1 goal, even in 5 games.
Generally players need at least 10 games to get a grade, but Veleno stood out in a small sample size, handling himself well and showing how hard he worked on his 200-foot game while in the Swedish Hockey League.
More: How a super confident Joe Veleno can impact the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-22
F Jakub Vrana: A
Age: 25.
Contract: Expiring with a $3.35 million cap hit; RFA.
Stats: 8 goals, 3 assists, plus-1 in 11 games.
What fun he was to watch after arriving at the trade deadline, from his four-goal game to a highlight-reel shootout goal to averaging a point a game. Needs better defense, but he looks like he can impact the rebuild.
F FIlip Zadina: B-
Age: 21.
Contract: Signed through 2021-22 with a $894,167 cap hit.
Stats: 6 goals, 13 assists, minus-4 in 49 games.
He showed significant improvement on defense and play away from the puck, which matters long-term. He knows how to score and how to get the puck in the slot, but still needs improvement in his play away from the puck.
Jeff Blashill and his coaching staff: B
Blashill and his primary assistants — Doug Houda (defensemen and penalty kill), Dan Bylsma (forwards and power play) and Jeff Salajko (goalies) — had a tough task as the lineup was decimated by injuries and the pandemic. Given the limitations of the roster — no elite defenseman, no superstar forward — the team performed well. The Wings went 8-16-4 the first half, and 11-11-6 the second half, an eight-point improvement.
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. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.