What a season it was for the Detroit Red Wings.
They began their third year under general manager Steve Yzerman with a rousing performance at home; Tyler Bertuzzi scored four times, Dylan Larkin scored the first goal and rookies Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider earned points in their NHL debuts. Those four players carried their impressive performances through to April, earning top grades for the season.
Among most of the rest of the group, there was less to like. Yzerman ultimately delivered the most telling, and failing, grade when he texted Jeff Blashill after the April 29 finale and asked to meet at Little Caesars Arena the following day. It was there, in his corner office, that Yzerman told Blashill his contract would not be renewed.
“Good coaches adjust and they do what they have to do with the personnel that they have and find a way to make it work,” Yzerman said in explaining his decision.
As encouraging as the Wings (32-40-10) were into mid-February —then a game above .500 in points percentage — they faded when assignments toughened.
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That cost Blashill and assistants Doug Houda and Jeff Salajko their jobs, and put Yzerman on a path to install his own selection behind the bench for the first time since taking command of the franchise in April 2019.
Beyond coaching, there were players who turned in mediocre performances, too, especially in the second half. Let’s examine who got what grade, and why:
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi: A
Age: 27.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $4.75 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 30 goals, 32 assists, minus-11 in 68 games.
The buzz: He reached career highs in goals and assists, provided energy and grit and was missed in the nine games he couldn’t play in Canada because of his vaccination status.
Adam Erne: D
Age: 27.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $2.1 million salary cap hit.
Stats: Six goals, 13 assists, minus-22 in 79 games.
Grade: Erne wasn’t as productive as last season (11 goals, nine assists in 45 games) and didn’t provide energy on a consistent basis; had no power play points despite averaging nearly a minute per game on man advantages.
Robby Fabbri: B
Age: 26.
Status: Signed through 2024-25 at a $4 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 17 goals, 13 assists, minus-23 in 56 games.
Grade: Fabbri was on pace to record his first 20-goal season when he was sidelined by a knee injury March 10; good around the net, but needs to improve in his own zone and watch his penalties.
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Sam Gagner: B+
Age: 32.
Status: Expiring contract with $850,000 salary cap hit; unrestricted free agent.
Stats: 13 goals, 18 assists, minus-4 in 81 games.
Grade: Gagner contributed nine goals in the second half, when games intensified, was a regular on the penalty kill and had spot-duty on the power play, all in averaging just north of 13 minutes. Good, calming presence.
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Dylan Larkin: A
Age: 25.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $6.1 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 31 goals, 38 assists, minus-18 in 69 games.
Grade: He had a 1.03 points-per-game pace the first half and .91 the second half. Larkin used his skating to his advantage and really grew into his role as captain.
Michael Rasmussen: B
Age: 23.
Status: Signed through 2023-24 at a $1.46 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 15 goals, 12 assists, minus-25 in 80 games.
Grade: He had a strong second half with 11 goals and looked he like figured out how to use his 6-foot-6 body to his advantage.
Lucas Raymond: A
Age: 20.
Status: Signed through 2023-24 at $925,000 salary cap hit.
Stats: 23 goals, 34 assists, minus-32 in 57 games.
Grade: Consistently impressive, scoring 12 goals in the second half even as the grind of the schedule zapped his energy. Raymond doesn’t throw away the puck even when he’s up against bigger opponents.
Carter Rowney: C
Age: 32.
Status: On expiring contract with a $825,000 salary cap hit; UFA.
Stats: Four goals, two assists, minus-6 in 26 games.
Grade: He helped fill the role of fourth-line center but only played four games the second half because of injuries.
Givani Smith: C-
Age: 24.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $750,000 salary cap hit.
Stats: Four goals, three assists, minus-6 in 46 games.
Grade: Smith struggled to provide energy and physicality without ending up in the penalty box, and was in and out of the lineup before getting hurt March 22.
Mitchell Stephens: C
Age: 25.
Status: On expiring contract with a $737,500 salary cap hit; RFA.
Stats: Six assists, minus-8 in 27 games.
Grade: Provided bursts of energy but his effectiveness was hampered by multiple injuries.
Oskar Sundqvist: C+
Age: 28.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $2.75 million salary cap hit.
Stats: Four goals, four assists, plus-1 in 18 games.
Grade: Sundqvist provided physicality and a net-front presence. A trade-deadline acquisition, he showed in limited time he could be an effective third-line winger and penalty killer.
Pius Suter: C
Age: 25.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $3.25 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 15 goals, 21 assists, minus-11 in 82 games.
Grade: Struggled to be a consistent scoring threat, though he showed a willingness to go to the net and hang onto the puck. Averaged 80 seconds per game on man advantages but had just three power play points.
Joe Veleno: C
Age: 22.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $894,167 salary cap hit.
Stats: Eight goals, seven assists, minus-14 in 66 games.
Grade: Veleno is still figuring out how hard he has to play every game to be effective; got some looks centering the first line in the second half; needs to work on his defensive game.
Jakub Vrana: B+
Age: 26.
Status: Signed through 2023-24 at a $5.25 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 13 goals, six assists, minus-8 in 26 games.
Grade: He missed the first 56 games recovering from shoulder surgery and showed improvement in his defensive game while demonstrating what a scoring touch he has.
Filip Zadina: D
Age: 22.
Status: Expiring contract with $894,167 salary cap hit; restricted free agent.
Stats: 10 goals, 14 assists, minus-24 in 74 games.
Grade: Showed sporadic signs of productivity but went long stretches where he barely was noticeable; was given a chance to play in the top six and regular power play time and didn’t make much of it.
Defensemen
Danny DeKeyser: C
Age: 32.
Status: On expiring contract with a $5 million salary cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 11 assists, minus-8 in 59 games.
Grade: He had decent numbers in the second half with eight assists and a minus-1 in 26 games; spent time partnered with Moritz Seider, and as a healthy scratch.
Filip Hronek: C-
Age: 24.
Status: Signed through 2023-24 at a $4.4 million salary cap hit.
Stats: Five goals, 33 assists, minus-29 in 78 games.
Grade: Seemed to regress in a reduced role, providing neither the productivity nor physicality that propelled him his first few seasons.
Olli Juolevi: D
Age: 23.
Status: On expiring contract with a $750,000 salary cap hit; RFA.
Stats: No points, minus-1 in 8 games.
Grade: He had a chance to audition for a regular role but couldn’t capitalize.
Gustav Lindstrom: C
Age: 23.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $850,000 salary cap hit.
Stats: One goal, 12 assists, minus-12 in 63 games.
Grade: He had a solid first half but faltered in the second, taking sloppy penalties and straying from playing the simple game that makes him most effective.
Jordan Oesterle: C
Age: 29.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $1.35 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 2 goals, 6 assists, minus-7 in 45 games.
Grade: Partnered with Moritz Seider at times, and at times a healthy scratch; i deally, he’s a depth guy.
Moritz Seider: A
Age: 21.
Status: Signed through 2023-24 at a $863,333 salary cap hit.
Stats: Seven goals, 43 assists, minus-9 in 82 games.
Grade: Seider put on a dominant performance in his rookie year, providing points, physicality and a savvy presence far beyond his age. He played with a swagger that bodes well for his and the team’s future.
Marc Staal: B+
Age: 35.
Status: On expiring contract with a $2 million salary cap hit; UFA.
Stats: Three goals, 13 assists, minus-1 in 71 games.
Grade: Provided physicality and a steadying presence, partnering either with Hronek or Lindstrom and, late in the season, Seider. Staal was a plus player in the first half.
Jake Walman: C+
Age: 26.
Status: On expiring contract with a $725,000 salary cap hit; RFA.
Stats: Four assists, minus-6 in 19 games.
Grade: Acquired at the trade deadline in the Nick Leddy deal, Walman showed he’s a good skater and added a shot mentality on the back end. He needs to work on his defensive game.
Goaltenders
Thomas Greiss: C-
Age: 36.
Status: Expiring contract with $3.6 million salary cap hit; UFA.
Stats: 10-15-1, 3.66 goals-against average, .891 save percentage in 31 games.
Grade: He gave his teammates a chance to win at times, but more often he let in soft goals and went through an extended slump.
Alex Nedeljkovic: B-
Age: 26.
Status: Signed through 2022-23 at a $3 million salary cap hit.
Stats: 20-24-9, 3.31 goals-against average, .901 save percentage in 59 games.
Grade: Greiss’ struggles created a heavier workload than suited Nedeljkovic, who slumped for stretches in the second half. Recovered his form late in the season.
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.