Red Wings: Predicting the Future of Detroit’s RFAs

The Detroit Red Wings have plenty of UFAs and RFAs to deal with next offseason. I’ve already examined the UFAs, so let’s try to predict the future of Detroit’s restricted free agents.

The Griffins

There are a couple of players in Grand Rapids that will become RFAs after this season: Taro Hirose and Chase Pearson. Hirose and Pearson are in pretty similar situations: both were signed to one-year contract extensions during the current off-season, both are in their mid-twenties (Hirose is 25, Pearson is 24) and both have struggled to make it to Detroit. The extension gives the two one more year to prove themselves.

Pearson has not played a game in Detroit yet and with the acquisition of Mitchell Stephens and Joe Veleno pushing for a roster spot, it’s hard to imagine Pearson leaping either on the center depth chart.

Hirose has a bit more experience at the NHL level (He played six games in Detroit last season; altogether he has 42 total NHL games under his belt), but he was only a Red Wings when Covid-19 or injuries necessitated it. There’s a chance the duo re-signs with the organization even if they don’t make it to the main roster – but it would probably be a contract for the Griffins.

The Goaltenders

There are a three goaltender RFAs at the end of the year and all three are prospects in the pipeline: Filip Larsson, Kaden Fulcher and Victor Brattstrom.

Detroit’s goaltending situation is in much, much better place than it was a year ago. Steve Yzerman acquired 25 year old Calder Trophy Finalist Alex Nedeljkovic from the Hurricanes and selected Sebastian Cossa in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for the three RFAs in the pipeline. Depth in a pipeline is key, especially between the pipes. With the likely departure of Keith Petruzzelli from the organization, there’s a pretty good chance all three are re-signed in the offseason, even if they have mediocre years.

The Forwards

There are only two players on the main roster that will become RFAs after the ’21-’22 season – Filip Zadina and Mitchell Stephens.

When it comes to a contract extension, it’s not a matter of if with Zadina, it’s a matter of how much. The price hinges on the kind of season the young forward has. Last year was frustrating for Zadina. After scoring 15 points in 28 games in 2019-20 (8 goals and 7 assists), he only managed to secure four more points with 21 more games. His corsi-for percentage also went from 10.2 in 2019-20 to 2.1 in 2020-21. However, a poor shooting percentage (6.2 percent in ’20-’21 vs 13.2 in ’19-’20) and inconsistent lineups certainly had an effect on the statistical regression.

But anyone that watched the Red Wings regularly last season can tell you that Zadina actually took a few steps forward in his game.  He became defensively sound and more impressively, began to develop and hone his skills as a puck hound. Zadina kept the motor going in the offensive zone without the puck, constantly putting pressure with his forecheck and poke check to force turnovers and keep defensemen on their heals.

If Zadina can improve his shooting percentage and continue his overall development, there’s a good chance he has the breakout season that many are predicting. If that’s the case, an extension is going to be pricey – but absolutely necessary.

A potential Stephens extension will be a pure depth decision. While Stephens seems to be the center most likely to win the battle for fourth line center, Veleno could very well snatch up that spot by the end of the year. It’s possible that Stephens plays the same role in Detroit that he did in Tampa Bay: an AHL regular that is comfortable occasionally stepping into an NHL lineup to replace injured or traded players.