How do you improve the Wings?

[ElProfessor]

If Rantanen or Marner hit free agency...we'd either better sign them, or offer more than whoever signed them.

Full stop.

Elite pre-30 players NEVER make it to free agency. If we get this unique opportunity (especially before the cap increases a huge amount next off-season)...we MUST do everything we can to capitalize on it.

End of story.

 

[ElProfessor]

Kyle Connor is a UFA next summer.

He lives in Detroit in the off-season, where he's from. Played at UofM w Larkjn, Compher, Copp, Motte.

He'd certainly be a nice target if he reaches market

 

[Henkka]

Kyle Connor is a UFA next summer.

He lives in Detroit in the off-season, where he's from. Played at UofM w Larkjn, Compher, Copp, Motte.

He'd certainly be a nice target if he reaches market

Guy would definitely be a perfect LW for the Top line with Larkin and Raymond.

 

[PelagicJoe]

There are some intriguing names in 2025 free agency. What does everyone think of trying for some of Rantanen, Marner, Chychrun, Ehlers, Pionk, Tavares (at a much cheaper rate than his current pay,) or Sam Bennett?
Chychrun and Pionk would be upgrades over Petry, Gus, Chiarot, and Holl. Petry is gone after this season. If we find a sucker to take Chiarot, I say go after both Chycrun and Pionk.
Rantanen, Bennett, or even Tavares would give us the much needed help at C. Just gotta find a way to convince Copp and Compher to waives their NMCs.
Ehlers could slot into the 2LW spot for some help on offense. Maybe Brock Boeser on the 2RW.

In a dream world, we dump Copp, Chiarot, Gus, Raz, Tarasenko, and Compher for these upgrades. Again, the NTC and NMC get in the way for some of these. Surely we can get one or two of those guys on the list though if Stevie is shrewd enough.

We will pretty much need an entire 2nd line or at the very least, two wingers on the 2nd line after this season. (We could use em now, but I digress.)

Cat-Larkin-Raymond
Ehlers-Rantanen/Bennett-Boeser

That could be a good top 6 if Steve can make the cap work.

Any thoughts, boys?

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

There are some intriguing names in 2025 free agency. What does everyone think of trying for some of Rantanen, Marner, Chychrun, Ehlers, Pionk, Tavares (at a much cheaper rate than his current pay,) or Sam Bennett?
Chychrun and Pionk would be upgrades over Petry, Gus, Chiarot, and Holl. Petry is gone after this season. If we find a sucker to take Chiarot, I say go after both Chycrun and Pionk.
Rantanen, Bennett, or even Tavares would give us the much needed help at C. Just gotta find a way to convince Copp and Compher to waives their NMCs.
Ehlers could slot into the 2LW spot for some help on offense. Maybe Brock Boeser on the 2RW.

In a dream world, we dump Copp, Chiarot, Gus, Raz, Tarasenko, and Compher for these upgrades. Again, the NTC and NMC get in the way for some of these. Surely we can get one or two of those guys on the list though if Stevie is shrewd enough.

We will pretty much need an entire 2nd line or at the very least, two wingers on the 2nd line after this season. (We could use em now, but I digress.)

Cat-Larkin-Raymond
Ehlers-Rantanen/Bennett-Boeser

That could be a good top 6 if Steve can make the cap work.

Any thoughts, boys?

should we sign the top 5 free agents on the market this year? geee, let me think about it...

 

[redwingsfannn9191]

There are some intriguing names in 2025 free agency. What does everyone think of trying for some of Rantanen, Marner, Chychrun, Ehlers, Pionk, Tavares (at a much cheaper rate than his current pay,) or Sam Bennett?
Chychrun and Pionk would be upgrades over Petry, Gus, Chiarot, and Holl. Petry is gone after this season. If we find a sucker to take Chiarot, I say go after both Chycrun and Pionk.
Rantanen, Bennett, or even Tavares would give us the much needed help at C. Just gotta find a way to convince Copp and Compher to waives their NMCs.
Ehlers could slot into the 2LW spot for some help on offense. Maybe Brock Boeser on the 2RW.

In a dream world, we dump Copp, Chiarot, Gus, Raz, Tarasenko, and Compher for these upgrades. Again, the NTC and NMC get in the way for some of these. Surely we can get one or two of those guys on the list though if Stevie is shrewd enough.

We will pretty much need an entire 2nd line or at the very least, two wingers on the 2nd line after this season. (We could use em now, but I digress.)

Cat-Larkin-Raymond
Ehlers-Rantanen/Bennett-Boeser

That could be a good top 6 if Steve can make the cap work.

Any thoughts, boys?

We'd be lucky to sign one let alone everyone lol no ones gonna suddenly want copp compher and all the contracts we signed

Wild I believe are finally gonna be off the hook with suter and parise so theyll get a couple guys

 

[lilidk]

6 points away from wild card. Who knows? I believe McLellan is the best Yzerman signing this season and everything will improve. Next season for sure we be in the playoffs

 

[wingerdinger]

There are some intriguing names in 2025 free agency. What does everyone think of trying for some of Rantanen, Marner, Chychrun, Ehlers, Pionk, Tavares (at a much cheaper rate than his current pay,) or Sam Bennett?
Chychrun and Pionk would be upgrades over Petry, Gus, Chiarot, and Holl. Petry is gone after this season. If we find a sucker to take Chiarot, I say go after both Chycrun and Pionk.
Rantanen, Bennett, or even Tavares would give us the much needed help at C. Just gotta find a way to convince Copp and Compher to waives their NMCs.
Ehlers could slot into the 2LW spot for some help on offense. Maybe Brock Boeser on the 2RW.

In a dream world, we dump Copp, Chiarot, Gus, Raz, Tarasenko, and Compher for these upgrades. Again, the NTC and NMC get in the way for some of these. Surely we can get one or two of those guys on the list though if Stevie is shrewd enough.

We will pretty much need an entire 2nd line or at the very least, two wingers on the 2nd line after this season. (We could use em now, but I digress.)

Cat-Larkin-Raymond
Ehlers-Rantanen/Bennett-Boeser

That could be a good top 6 if Steve can make the cap work.

Any thoughts, boys?

cat-larkin-raymond line isnt well balanced. You need somebody who can do the dirty work that's why Veleno has looked decent on the top line.

Bennett would be the perfect net crasher puck retriver for that line and would be a realistic target. Though I'm weary about having to pay over the top for him.

 

[Snuggs]

There are some intriguing names in 2025 free agency. What does everyone think of trying for some of Rantanen, Marner, Chychrun, Ehlers, Pionk, Tavares (at a much cheaper rate than his current pay,) or Sam Bennett?
Chychrun and Pionk would be upgrades over Petry, Gus, Chiarot, and Holl. Petry is gone after this season. If we find a sucker to take Chiarot, I say go after both Chycrun and Pionk.
Rantanen, Bennett, or even Tavares would give us the much needed help at C. Just gotta find a way to convince Copp and Compher to waives their NMCs.
Ehlers could slot into the 2LW spot for some help on offense. Maybe Brock Boeser on the 2RW.

In a dream world, we dump Copp, Chiarot, Gus, Raz, Tarasenko, and Compher for these upgrades. Again, the NTC and NMC get in the way for some of these. Surely we can get one or two of those guys on the list though if Stevie is shrewd enough.

We will pretty much need an entire 2nd line or at the very least, two wingers on the 2nd line after this season. (We could use em now, but I digress.)

Cat-Larkin-Raymond
Ehlers-Rantanen/Bennett-Boeser

That could be a good top 6 if Steve can make the cap work.

Any thoughts, boys?

My only thought is you aren't thinking about money or what these UFA's want. Teams/Red Wings can't just go out and sign a borderline All-Star line in UFA, especially when one of those guys might get a league record contract. Red Wings only have around 19 million to work with. I think you "could" trade away Rasmussen in a similar fashion you did with Walman, and Copp can be bought out, but Tarasenko/Compher's contracts are problems. Even with clearing so cap space you'd never have enough to sign multi-guys like that in UFA. Target one or two and see what happens, have contingency plans in case it doesn't work, etc.

Pionk/Chychrun are the best defensemen available, they'll get 5x5 plus easily. Rantanen is getting 13-14 million per year. Bennetts simply taking the biggest offer. For a bunch of fans that don't like watching players get paid, it'll be a rough offseason. Not MLB/NBA contracts yet but we're going to see some big ones this summer.

 

[Snuggs]

6 points away from wild card. Who knows? I believe McLellan is the best Yzerman signing this season and everything will improve. Next season for sure we be in the playoffs

36 wins.

That's the number "most of the time" that'll guarantee you a playoff spot. Not exact but pretty dang good, nonetheless. It's like the playoff thing by Thanksgiving. If a team is in a playoff position by Thanksgiving, over 70% of the time in the NHL those teams have gone on to make the playoffs.

Our team last year was an exception, to this thanksgiving rule. SMH, but did finish the season short of that 36 number... WHICH, if... they did win 36 games, (one more) they'd have made it!!!

 

[schuelma24]

6 points away from wild card. Who knows? I believe McLellan is the best Yzerman signing this season and everything will improve. Next season for sure we be in the playoffs

Take a look at the remaining schedule starting January 16th. It's just brutal..I think the Wings can play much better the rest of the year and still barely clear 80 points.

 

[redwingsfannn9191]

Take a look at the remaining schedule starting January 16th. It's just brutal..I think the Wings can play much better the rest of the year and still barely clear 80 points.

Ya I'm not expecting anything from this team cause we had a win. Teams just wont take us lightly later on and give us a beatdown. At the end of the day our defense is still the same mostly 30+ washed up guys unless yzerman makes changes

as long as kane keeps playing better so at best we land a late 2nd and so on,see kasper etc... progressing and we see some g.r kids like soderblom tuomisto wallinder etc... getting called up and seeing games I'll be happy

 

[ricky0034]

36 wins.

That's the number "most of the time" that'll guarantee you a playoff spot. Not exact but pretty dang good, nonetheless. It's like the playoff thing by Thanksgiving. If a team is in a playoff position by Thanksgiving, over 70% of the time in the NHL those teams have gone on to make the playoffs.

Our team last year was an exception, to this thanksgiving rule. SMH, but did finish the season short of that 36 number... WHICH, if... they did win 36 games, (one more) they'd have made it!!!

the Wings won 41 games last year

 

[Snuggs]

the Wings won 41 games last year

You are right, even more of an anomaly to miss the playoffs!

I wonder what the probability is of a 40-win team missing the playoffs are, we need a good nerdy stat guy around here.

 

[Realgud]

Maybe this has been discussed in another thread so sorry in advance... but with how bad the defense is and how little the cost of that trade was, AND that we are in the other conference, I find it inconceivable we didn't want to pay more than Biatabutuka and a 4th for Cam Fowler...

 

[KJoe88]

36 wins.

That's the number "most of the time" that'll guarantee you a playoff spot. Not exact but pretty dang good, nonetheless. It's like the playoff thing by Thanksgiving. If a team is in a playoff position by Thanksgiving, over 70% of the time in the NHL those teams have gone on to make the playoffs.

Our team last year was an exception, to this thanksgiving rule. SMH, but did finish the season short of that 36 number... WHICH, if... they did win 36 games, (one more) they'd have made it!!!

That f***ing sharks game will haunt me forever. And it was the night I showed my ex the door.

 

[Zetterberg4Captain]

I think Pettersson's days in Vancouver are numbered, though I can see an offseason move moreso thsn in-season..

Anybody who'd trade for him would need to be sure he'd actually want to play there.

Is their any palatable pckg for both teams we could offer?

Compher
Rasmussen
Danielson
2026 1st

If a deal could be made, would we want him? 11m is a huge cap commitment to a guy who has shown inconsistent work ethic (or at least appears that way)

Thoughts?

 

[FMichael]

I think Pettersson's days in Vancouver are numbered, though I can see an offseason move moreso thsn in-season..

Anybody who'd trade for him would need to be sure he'd actually want to play there.

Is their any palatable pckg for both teams we could offer?

Compher
Rasmussen
Danielson
2026 1st

If a deal could be made, would we want him? 11m is a huge cap commitment to a guy who has shown inconsistent work ethic (or at least appears that way)

Thoughts?

From what I’ve read is that Pettersson melts away when things get physical.

If that’s the case - I would rather attempt to send them Copp/Compher/draft picks rather than anything substantial.

I don’t believe they would want that package.

 

[SirloinUB]

I really don't understand the hostility towards Compher. Dude has averaged 50 points the last two seasons, battles hard and plays a responsible game.

I'm sure he would be the first one to tell you that November was an ugly month. Before that he started with a respectable 5 points in 8 games and now has 9 points in his last 10 and 12 in his last 15. Shit, if he grabbed 2 more assists hed be on pace for another 50 point season. On his career as a red wing he's put up 67 points in 113 games good for a 47 point pace/82 games.

His 119 points over the last 2.5 seasons slot him in around the 50-60 most productive center (depends who you count as a center, guys like RNH/Guntzel, etc are listed as centers).

His 5.1M ranks 75th for cap him. So you are getting the 58th most productive center at the 75 highest cap hit (for the position).

He is far from the negative value asset many of you try to paint him as.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I really don't understand the hostility towards Compher. Dude has averaged 50 points the last two seasons, battles hard and plays a responsible game.

I'm sure he would be the first one to tell you that November was an ugly month. Before that he started with a respectable 5 points in 8 games and now has 9 points in his last 10 and 12 in his last 15. Shit, if he grabbed 2 more assists hed be on pace for another 50 point season. On his career as a red wing he's put up 67 points in 113 games good for a 47 point pace/82 games.

His 119 points over the last 2.5 seasons slot him in around the 50-60 most productive center (depends who you count as a center, guys like RNH/Guntzel, etc are listed as centers).

His 5.1M ranks 75th for cap him. So you are getting the 58th most productive center at the 75 highest cap hit (for the position).

He is far from the negative value asset many of you try to paint him as.

Compher isn't a problem and nor is his contract. He hasn't played super well this year, but he isn't a problem now or in the future. I think Wings fans just have a hyper binary approach to everything. They think you should either be making $2.5mm x 2 or $10mm x 7. There is no middle ground. If you are perceived as being overpaid in any way, you are stopping us from signing Marner or Rantanen. No one ever questions why the hell Rantanen or Marner would want to come to Detroit in the first place.

 

[SirloinUB]

Compher isn't a problem and nor is his contract. He hasn't played super well this year, but he isn't a problem now or in the future. I think Wings fans just have a hyper binary approach to everything. They think you should either be making $2.5mm x 2 or $10mm x 7. There is no middle ground. If you are perceived as being overpaid in any way, you are stopping us from signing Marner or Rantanen. No one ever questions why the hell Rantanen or Marner would want to come to Detroit in the first place.

You took the words out of my mouth with the "binary approach" comment haha.

It seems many among this fanbase have absolutely no appreciation for players that aren't "star quality." You're either a star or utter garbage around here.

I get it, we need upgrades and I'm not trying to pretend Compher, Ras, etc. are the best things since sliced bread but they're also useable pieces paid fair salaries

 

[sepster]

You took the words out of my mouth with the "binary approach" comment haha.

It seems many among this fanbase have absolutely no appreciation for players that aren't "star quality." You're either a star or utter garbage around here.

I get it, we need upgrades and I'm not trying to pretend Compher, Ras, etc. are the best things since sliced bread but they're also useable pieces paid fair salaries

Compher, prior to the past 5 games, has been utter garbage this season. He hasn't been able to make a pass, receive a pass, win a faceoff, or play well defensively. He's been a black hole that plays go to die.

Now, maybe he was a Lalonde suffocation victim like many on the team seem to have been and he is able to get his game in gear, because yes, last season he was a serviceable 2C.

 

[Winger98]

My problem with Compher is that he looked god awful this season until Trouba was dealt to Anaheim.

 

[SirloinUB]

Compher, prior to the past 5 games, has been utter garbage this season. He hasn't been able to make a pass, receive a pass, win a faceoff, or play well defensively. He's been a black hole that plays go to die.

Now, maybe he was a Lalonde suffocation victim like many on the team seem to have been and he is able to get his game in gear, because yes, last season he was a serviceable 2C.

October was fine - November was ugly - December was solid.

I'm sure he would be the first one to tell you that November was an ugly month. Before that he started with a respectable 5 points in 8 games and now has 9 points in his last 10 and 12 in his last 15. Shit, if he grabbed 2 more assists hed' be on pace for another 50 point season.

He isn't great at faceoffs, ill give you that one but let's not forget, Compher is a solid player that played a significant role on a cup winning team.

 

[sepster]

October was fine - November was ugly - December was solid.



He isn't great at faceoffs, ill give you that one but let's not forget, Compher is a solid player that played a significant role on a cup winning team.

Going by points, sure, but by the eye test he has been garbage up until the last 5 games.