Lindholm had a few 70+ point seasons. I don’t think Bennett has one 50+ point season. Bennett isn’t getting 9+.
Second, Kasper’s not going to the bottom 6 to develop with Tarasenko, Berggren, Rasmussen, Copp, Compher and whatever other trash the wings have there next year. He’s already better than these bums. The second line has scored decently with him there even if he’s been cold a couple of games. Raymond and Larkin stopped scoring the second he moved off their line.
Your take is bad.
I don't think he'll get 9+, but 8+ with term is entirely possible.
And I don't think Detroit should try and sign Bennett. I think that other free agents or trade targets would be better fits for the organization going forward.
Kasper has looked amazing since the new year and could be a long-term 2C for Detroit.
Danielson I see as a high-end middle-6 center too in a couple years, once Copp slides down the lineup. Danielson hasn't produced an incredible amount in the AHL but regularly flashes good skill and intelligence, and I think he could actually get started on the Red Wings on a line with Kasper next season or on a lower line if need be.
People get uselessly worried about Larkin's prime years slowly being whittled-away, but I think he can maintain his level of play as a #1C for another 4-5 years before maybe needing some help or moving down to the second-line.
Those 3 should all be part of the short and mid-term Red Wings teams. Larkin I believe could be a long-term piece in a slightly reduced role over time, kind of like what happened with Jamie Benn over the course of his career in Dallas.
And the reason I'm saying all this is to highlight the pretty obvious fact (at least to me) that the Red Wings should try and bolster their wing depth as well as defensive options if possible, not the center-ice position specifically.
As far as the wingers go on the Red Wings, aside from Raymond and DeBrincat there are not many that I genuinely like.
Kane is amazing on the powerplay but isn't nearly as good 5-on-5. He may also retire this offseason, so that opens a bit of a hole on the Red Wings' wing, pun intended.
Tarasenko hasn't been good this season and so should be a bottom-6 option only for one last contract year before being unceremoniously let go of.
Rasmussen isn't consistent nor the smartest player on the ice so a top-6 role for him would be suboptimal for the team for the foreseeable future.
Berggren is talented but is more of a complementary piece to a top-6 at this point given how he still struggles to create space for himself at the NHL level or fight through contact.
Elmer Soderblom has some very nice attributes and an incredible frame but is still quite raw as a player. I'd give him a third-line role next year, but maybe with some development he could eventually end up as a space-creator for more talented teammates.
A guy like MBN still needs at least a year before he's ready for the show, but could be a second-line power-winger, or maybe even a facilitator on a top-line if all goes well for him.
Carter Mazur and Amadeus Lombardi have acquitted themselves pretty well at the AHL level, but both are unproven at this point and should start down the lineup if they even make the Red Wings out of camp next season.
So yeah, there are definitely at least 3 spots to fill at forward next year for the Wings, and I think guys like Duchene, Ehlers, or Donato would be smarter grabs as UFAs to play them at wing rather than signing a guy like Bennett, whose playstyle may not age gracefully.
On the defensive side, I think Seider, Edvinsson, and Johansson are pretty firmly entrenched as top-4 options, with ASP joining them as soon as next season in my opinion. Holl and Chiarot as deserving 3rd-pairing options.
Not much to change there in my opinion, unless the Wings manage to grab a higher-end veteran (not of the Chiarot/Holl variety) to insulate the Johanssons and ASPs of the world.
At the goalie position, Cossa and Augustine are the future but may require another year at least before they're ready.
Overall, I still think people are WAY overreacting to a slight step-back in the rebuild process for Detroit.
There is no "downfall" to speak of, just people that had their unrealistic expectations unmet after a year where Detroit overachieved and nearly made the playoffs.
And I actually think this exact-same scenario could unfold next season if Montreal experiences a stumble and fails to make the playoffs two seasons in a row.
If not for HfBoards' typical overreaction spree, this would be a nothing-burger.
