Red Wings quietly have the deepest defensive group in the league

[Pavels Dog]

I can't really find any other team aside from Vegas and Boston that has a more well rounded, balanced and potential threat line up than the Wings.

Gostisbehere, Petry, Määttä, that's 90-100 points alone from #4-6 guys. I don't think there's any team with that kind of scoring punch from depth d-men. Not to mention Seider having a down year last season due to Chiarot reasons. He's easily good for 50 points from the blueline.

Then you have another potential 20 points and 50+ PIM from Chiarot, and Walman who could definitely build on last season potting perhaps another 30pts along with great analytics. That's not even mentioning Holl who could be another Larry Murphy type player who thrives when going from Toronto to Detroit. Even Edvinsson could be good for 20-30 points including 5-10 goals.

Husso is a top 5 goaltender in the division, and there's Larkin and Copp (albeit overpaid) are 2 elite two-way forwards who make their wingers much better than they are (Perron, Fabbri, Raymond and Debrincat).

With the amount of team defense this team has with the additions of Compher, Kostin and Fischer, having a bit weaker scoring forwards is manageable. Wings were good at limiting high-danger chances last season even with atrocious depth, in large part thanks to Lalonde and his brains. Special teams was an issue but that should be improved.

I just can't really think of a more well balanced group, especially the defensive group, with an average age of 29 years old.

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[TheDawnOfANewTage]

 

[Dr Pepper]

I can't really find any other team aside from Vegas and Boston that has a more well rounded, balanced and potential threat line up than the Wings.

Gostisbehere, Petry, Määttä, that's 90-100 points alone from #4-6 guys. I don't think there's any team with that kind of scoring punch from depth d-men. Not to mention Seider having a down year last season due to Chiarot reasons. He's easily good for 50 points from the blueline.

Then you have another potential 20 points and 50+ PIM from Chiarot, and Walman who could definitely build on last season potting perhaps another 30pts along with great analytics. That's not even mentioning Holl who could be another Larry Murphy type player who thrives when going from Toronto to Detroit. Even Edvinsson could be good for 20-30 points including 5-10 goals.

Husso is a top 5 goaltender in the division, and there's Larkin and Copp (albeit overpaid) are 2 elite two-way forwards who make their wingers much better than they are (Perron, Fabbri, Raymond and Debrincat).

With the amount of team defense this team has with the additions of Compher, Kostin and Fischer, having a bit weaker scoring forwards is manageable. Wings were good at limiting high-danger chances last season even with atrocious depth, in large part thanks to Lalonde and his brains. Special teams was an issue but that should be improved.

I just can't really think of a more well balanced group, especially the defensive group, with an average age of 29 years old.

I have some terrible news for you, if that's what you think is gonna happen.

 

[13to40]

I love the Wings and really enjoy wearing my jersey in every away arena I visit, but I think you’re a tad too optimistic…

The defence will be very slow and if Holl plays similar to how he did last year for the leafs, you will hate him in a heartbeat. I do think the defence is vastly improved compared to last season and they are probably the most improved defensive group compared to last season, but they were the equivalent of a hot steamy pile of dung last season so that’s not saying too much….

 

[BurntToast]

The Pens just got a guy who got a 100 points by himself.

 

[Senor Catface]

I'm just glad defensive powerhouse Calgary finally lost this title.

 

[wmupreds]

I know this was mostly about D corps but I had to stop reading at Larkin and Copp "are elite two way forwards"

 

[Eggtimer]

I’d take the Devils D core over Wings‘ 100 times out of 100.
Hamilton , Hughes , Nemec , Marino , Seigenthaler , Bahl .
Very good mix IMO with having each pair with an offense style paired with a stay at home guy .
All are good at moving the puck and Hughes and Nemec have the potential to be elite at it.
Just my two cents but I think Luke and Nemec will be as good or better than Seider amd Edvinsson. Then Hamilton is better than any other D on Detroit, then have Marino Seigs who are elite defensively. Bahl played very well agajnst the Rangers in the playoffs and showed glimpses of being physically dominant and able to defend very well.

 

[HBK27]

I still don't think they make the playoffs this season.

 

[Pinto Bean]

Sanderson, Chabot, Chychrun, Zub, Brannstron, Hamonic, Bernard-Docker, Kleven > Red Wings Defensive Core

 

[belair]

Justin Holl = Larry Murphy

Spidermans.jpg

 

[ChaoticOrange]

the Wings are deep in 4/5 defencemen. That's not necessarily the area you want to be deep in. They have a bonafide #1, that will help float everyone else, but a lot of 4/5 guys doesn't mean your D will be excellent. It'll be better than it was though.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Larry Murphy was already a really good dman and had a good year in Toronto his first year.

Detroit has Seider and then a bunch of number 4 dmen, or lower

 

[Shocker]

Imagine if one team could have Canucks offense and Wings defence, they would be unstoppable.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Ya I think I'll happily take Colorado's group lmao.

 

[Zbynek]

Agreed, the Red Wings have a sneakily good and balanced d-corps. and it should go without saying Moritz Seider is an absolute stud. But they are not the deepest in the NHL

Oh and let's chill with the Larry Murphy comparisons.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Imagine if one team could have Canucks offense and Wings defence, they would be unstoppable.

The NHL could not handle such depth

 

[surixon]

The defense is the one area that I haven't liked what Yzerman has done to the team. It's big, lacks mobility, skill, and transition ability.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I think it's certainly an underrated group and deep enough that you have 8 capable NHL D in lieu of potential injuries (Edvinsson currently won't return until October-ish). If we're talking sheer depth in that regard, maybe the deepest.

However, depth can only get you so far when the higher-end talent is relatively thin compared to Colorado, for example... Unless you're Seattle I guess. I'm interested to see how Ghost can do as I've always liked him and in the right system he might pop off like Walman did last year (a guy who I'm hoping can repeat his elevated play). Give it 1-2 years for Edvinsson and 3-4 years for Wallinder to be established and maybe even ASP. Teams are gonna hate playing Detroit.

I also wouldn't say Larkin or Copp are either elite 2-way players. Both good to pretty good, but also Debrincat hasn't played with the team yet so I don't think it's fair to say Larkin can elevate him.

Husso is quite inconsistent and so far unproven in terms of carrying a 55+ game starter role. I'm hesitant to give him such praise but might thrive in a 50/50 role with Lyon. Top 5 in the division? Hmmm I would be hesitant to praise Husso if that's the metric we're going by.

I do agree that the depth forward additions are underrated pieces that will help greatly so that the top 6 forwards can do offensive heavy lifting.

Damn though, it's been an exciting offseason for Wings fans so I can understand being somewhat overzealous here.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Justin Holl = Larry Murphy

Spidermans.jpg

 

[Michoulicious]

I can't really find any other team aside from Vegas and Boston that has a more well rounded, balanced and potential threat line up than the Wings.

Gostisbehere, Petry, Määttä, that's 90-100 points alone from #4-6 guys. I don't think there's any team with that kind of scoring punch from depth d-men. Not to mention Seider having a down year last season due to Chiarot reasons. He's easily good for 50 points from the blueline.

Then you have another potential 20 points and 50+ PIM from Chiarot, and Walman who could definitely build on last season potting perhaps another 30pts along with great analytics. That's not even mentioning Holl who could be another Larry Murphy type player who thrives when going from Toronto to Detroit. Even Edvinsson could be good for 20-30 points including 5-10 goals.

Husso is a top 5 goaltender in the division, and there's Larkin and Copp (albeit overpaid) are 2 elite two-way forwards who make their wingers much better than they are (Perron, Fabbri, Raymond and Debrincat).

With the amount of team defense this team has with the additions of Compher, Kostin and Fischer, having a bit weaker scoring forwards is manageable. Wings were good at limiting high-danger chances last season even with atrocious depth, in large part thanks to Lalonde and his brains. Special teams was an issue but that should be improved.

I just can't really think of a more well balanced group, especially the defensive group, with an average age of 29 years old.

Is this defense just quiet or is it also burning small settlements?

 

[ricky0034]

Is this defense just quiet or is it also burning small settlements?

that's Edvinsson's job

he needs something to do while he waits for his roster spot to open up in 2026 when he runs out of waiver immunity

 

[Michoulicious]

that's Edvinsson's job

he needs something to do while he waits for his roster spot to open up in 2026 when he runs out of waiver immunity

Hopefully he does it quietly, while also roaring back.

 

[BlueOil]

wait i thought the islanders already existed in the east

 

[WarriorofTime]

I assume Justin Holl as Larry Murphy was a joke?