Your Rebuild Opinion? Next Move Coming?

[The Zetterberg Era]

It's kind of amazing when pressed on what on earth Draper has done to be handed this franchise, my question has been met with crickets. Like, not a single response. That says something about something. So what's up @Petes2424 @Frk It @The Zetterberg Era ? What makes you confident the Red Wings are gonna blow it up and then hand it over to Draper?

So yeah, depth. This could very well be our lineup next season:

Center
C1: Larkin
C2: Kasper
C3: Copp
C4: Danielson (with the potential to move up the lineup)

Defense
DP1: Edvinsson - Seider
DP2: X - Sandin-Pelikka

That's the type of center depth we haven't had since Datsyuk and Zetterberg. That's the sort of quality top 4 on D we haven't had since Lidstrom-Rafalski-Kronwall. I'm not saying that lineup I posted above is going to be as good as the core players on our last Cup winner, just that if you can't see the improvement from where we were when Holland had the roster full of old, overpriced vets, the team was up against the cap, and only put up 39 points in the 2019-20 season, you are an excellence demander who will only be happy once the team has finally won a Cup and can't really understand how long the rebuild Steve Yzerman promised us was going to take.

Yzerman said his goal was to give the team a long window of being competitive. The hard work has mostly been done. I do think we'll see a much better team next season.

I had not heard it on this timeline, I had heard the transition slower. Draper is thought of very well organizationally.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Go after Zetterlund.

 

[Chad Smiley]

No clue when to hold them and when to fold them. No clue.

 

[Gniwder]

It’ll be an interesting beginning of the summer for Detroit. I’d call it a 50/50 chance Draper is the Manager after the Draft.

The team needs a new GM, and if it winds up being Draper, I'm probably done being a Wings fan. If the draft selections reflect the kind of team he intends to build, I don't need to watch. MoAR Clevelands!

 

[ElProfessor]

I think the best way to look at this is to first just take a sober look at what the team’s going to look like over the next 3yrs with no additions..

2027-28:

DeBrincat(UFA)—Larkin—Raymond
Soder—Kasper(RFA)—MBN(RFA)
Buchelnikov—Danielson(RFA)—Mazur
Rasmussen—Compher—Finnie?

Edvinsson—Seider
Johansson—ASP(RFA)
Buium(RFA)—Wallinder

G: Cossa, Augustine

2026-27:

DeBrincat—Larkin—Raymond
Soder—Kasper—MBN
Buchelnikov—Danielson—Mazur(RFA)
Rasmussen—Copp—Compher

Edvinsson(RFA)—Seider
Johansson—ASP
Wallinder(RFA)—???

G: Cossa(RFA), ???

2025-26:

Soder(RFA)—Larkin—Raymond
DeBrincat—Kasper—Kane(UFA)
Rasmussen—Danielson—Mazur
Tarasenko—Copp—Compher

Edvinsson—Seider
Chiarot—Johansson(RFA)
Gustafsson—Holl

G: Mrazek, Talbot

**********

It’s not that bad, is it? There are a couple of long-term needs, but nothing impossible.

#1: Top Six LW. Marner could be the answer in FA this yr (moving Raymond to LW). Or Kyle Connor next yr. Or our top pick in the draft. Moves Soder to a better-suited bottom-6 role.

#2: Top-4 LHD. In an ideal world, you don’t want two small D (ASP and Johansson) in your top-4. Could be Gavrikov or Provorov in FA this yr. Could be our top-pick in the draft (or maybe a trade-up into the mid-1st, if we go forward first). Moves Johansson to a better-suited 3rd pair role, and the lesser of Wallinder/Buium out of the lineup.

(Maybe #3): A 2nd Line RW…in case MBN and Mazur are more like 3rd and 4th liners than 2nd and 3rd liners.

 

[ElProfessor]

Here’s what I think it could realistically look like..

(throw your 2025 lotto pick in there somewhere too)

2027-28:

Connor—Larkin—Raymond
DeBrincat(UFA)—Kasper(RFA)—Tavares
Buchelnikov—Danielson(RFA)—MBN(RFA)
Soder—Rassmusen—Mazur
X: Compher

Gavrikov—Seider
Edvinsson—ASP(RFA)
Johansson—Ekblad

G: Cossa, Augustine

2026-27:

Connor—Larkin—Raymond
DeBrincat—Kasper—Tavares
Buchelnikov—Danielson—MBN
Soder—Copp—Mazur(RFA)
X: Rasmussen, Compher

Gavrikov—Seider
Edvinsson(RFA)—ASP
Johansson—Ekblad

G: Cossa(RFA), ???

2025-26:

Tavares—Larkin—Raymond
DeBrincat—Kasper—Kane(UFA)
Soder(RFA)—Danielson—Mazur
Rasmussen—Copp—Compher
X: Tarasenko

Gavrikov—Seider
Edvinsson—Ekblad
Chiarot—Johansson(RFA)
X: Gustafsson, Holl

G: Mrazek, Talbot

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

The team is well and truly effed unless some of the 2nd tier prospects vastly outperform expectations.

 

[datsyukfan]

They aren’t crazy far away but they need 2 impact signing. Stud top 6F and a rock solid top 4D. If they sign Marner and Gavrikov yzerman has hit a grand slam and this team will be scary quick

 

[USAHockey97]

I think the best way to look at this is to first just take a sober look at what the team’s going to look like over the next 3yrs with no additions..

2027-28:

DeBrincat(UFA)—Larkin—Raymond
Soder—Kasper(RFA)—MBN(RFA)
Buchelnikov—Danielson(RFA)—Mazur
Rasmussen—Compher—Finnie?

Edvinsson—Seider
Johansson—ASP(RFA)
Buium(RFA)—Wallinder

G: Cossa, Augustine

2026-27:

DeBrincat—Larkin—Raymond
Soder—Kasper—MBN
Buchelnikov—Danielson—Mazur(RFA)
Rasmussen—Copp—Compher

Edvinsson(RFA)—Seider
Johansson—ASP
Wallinder(RFA)—???

G: Cossa(RFA), ???

2025-26:

Soder(RFA)—Larkin—Raymond
DeBrincat—Kasper—Kane(UFA)
Rasmussen—Danielson—Mazur
Tarasenko—Copp—Compher

Edvinsson—Seider
Chiarot—Johansson(RFA)
Gustafsson—Holl

G: Mrazek, Talbot

**********

It’s not that bad, is it? There are a couple of long-term needs, but nothing impossible.

#1: Top Six LW. Marner could be the answer in FA this yr (moving Raymond to LW). Or Kyle Connor next yr. Or our top pick in the draft. Moves Soder to a better-suited bottom-6 role.

#2: Top-4 LHD. In an ideal world, you don’t want two small D (ASP and Johansson) in your top-4. Could be Gavrikov or Provorov in FA this yr. Could be our top-pick in the draft (or maybe a trade-up into the mid-1st, if we go forward first). Moves Johansson to a better-suited 3rd pair role, and the lesser of Wallinder/Buium out of the lineup.

(Maybe #3): A 2nd Line RW…in case MBN and Mazur are more like 3rd and 4th liners than 2nd and 3rd liners.

Replacement for Larkin as he ages.

 

[USAHockey97]

The team is well and truly effed unless some of the 2nd tier prospects vastly outperform expectations.

Agree. They don’t have any high end forwards outside of Raymond.

 

[USAHockey97]

It's kind of amazing when pressed on what on earth Draper has done to be handed this franchise, my question has been met with crickets. Like, not a single response. That says something about something. So what's up @Petes2424 @Frk It @The Zetterberg Era ? What makes you confident the Red Wings are gonna blow it up and then hand it over to Draper?

So yeah, depth. This could very well be our lineup next season:

Center
C1: Larkin
C2: Kasper
C3: Copp
C4: Danielson (with the potential to move up the lineup)

Defense
DP1: Edvinsson - Seider
DP2: X - Sandin-Pelikka

That's the type of center depth we haven't had since Datsyuk and Zetterberg. That's the sort of quality top 4 on D we haven't had since Lidstrom-Rafalski-Kronwall. I'm not saying that lineup I posted above is going to be as good as the core players on our last Cup winner, just that if you can't see the improvement from where we were when Holland had the roster full of old, overpriced vets, the team was up against the cap, and only put up 39 points in the 2019-20 season, you are an excellence demander who will only be happy once the team has finally won a Cup and can't really understand how long the rebuild Steve Yzerman promised us was going to take.

Yzerman said his goal was to give the team a long window of being competitive. The hard work has mostly been done. I do think we'll see a much better team next season.

Depth being the key word. Lack of skill though. Not sure that C lineup would scare most teams.

 

[ElProfessor]

Replacement for Larkin as he ages.

I think he, Kasper and Danielson will be more or less interchangable 1-3

 

[deca guard]

2025/26 #4: JEANOTT-COPP-MAZUR

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

2025/26 #4: JEANOTT-COPP-MAZUR

I’m OK with swapping Rasmussen for Jeanott 1 for 1.


Boeser - Larkin - Raymond
DBC - Kasper - Kane
Soderblom - Danielson - Zetterlund (find a way to trade for his rights) or MBN (depending on how he looks in AHL postseason and NHL preseason)
Jeanott - Copp - Mazur

Byram (Trade 2026 or 2027 1st for him) - Seider
Edvinsson - Johansson
Chiarot - ASP/Fabbro
Merril (bring back the mullet!)

Talbot
Cossa
Mrazek (you know he’s going to get hurt)

Waive/trade Holl, Gus and Tank, Rasmussen, Berggren, Compher

This gives the team an easily interchangeable top 9. Keep the bottom line as your shutdown line. Eventually swap out Copp for a scrappy, mean 4th line center type and you have a shutdown and agitator line.

@Henkka , about how many points does this team put up if healthy when you run your JFresh standing points above replacement analysis? (I understand rookies rank in at zero points but we know Danielson and Mazur will provide some positive value)

 

[kliq]

Honestly, I'd attempt to trade for Elias Petterson. Is there risk? Of course, but his value has never been lower, and having a 1-2-3 punch down the middle of Peterson-Larkin-Kasper sounds great to me, especially when the D is anchored by Mo and Simon.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Honestly, I'd attempt to trade for Elias Petterson. Is there risk? Of course, but his value has never been lower, and having a 1-2-3 punch down the middle of Peterson-Larkin-Kasper sounds great to me, especially when the D is anchored by Mo and Simon.

Ugh…not this again.

Vancouver fans are saying they traded the wrong center. Pettersson is so disinterested. You think he’s 100% dialed in leaving Vancouver for Detroit to a WAY tougher division and conference?

No. Thank. You.

 

[Winger98]

Honestly, I'd attempt to trade for Elias Petterson. Is there risk? Of course, but his value has never been lower, and having a 1-2-3 punch down the middle of Peterson-Larkin-Kasper sounds great to me, especially when the D is anchored by Mo and Simon.

I'd be shocked if they move Pettersson. They have two more seasons before Hughes can walk as a UFA, they have to sell him that he should stay and that they'll be competitive. Maybe if next year goes all to hell they will sell both the following season to kick start a rebuild, but I have to believe they will try to right that ship at least next season.

 

[wingsfannnn9191]

Buyout holl
Retain 50% tarasenko and find 3rd team to eat $ and send him on his way
Compher & pick for kreider
2026 top 10 protected 1st + Berggren for Romanov
Gustafson for futures
Wallinder for Lukas Fischer
Get 3rd team involved for xhekaj... Rasmussen being main piece
Deal one of talbot or mrazek
Nyi might get rid of pageau for cap purposes, can help penalty kill
Give chiarot away

Kreider has 2 years and pageau 1 so fits the timeline , don’t think Yzerman signs anyone longterm since nygaard,buchelnikov etc.. are close

Kreider larkin raymond
Debrincat Kasper Soderblom
Lombardi pageau danielson
Jeannot copp mazur
Watson


Romanov seider
Edvinsson asp
Xhekaj Johansson
Tuomisto

Cossa
Talbot/Mrazek


kreider can be replaced by Bertuzzi in a trade but I thought about it and if Bert came back and left yet again larkin might visit the local bridge

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Merril (bring back the mullet!)

Talbot
Cossa
Mrazek (you know he’s going to get hurt)

Waive/trade Holl, Gus and Tank, Rasmussen, Berggren, Compher

This gives the team an easily interchangeable top 9. Keep the bottom line as your shutdown line. Eventually swap out Copp for a scrappy, mean 4th line center type and you have a shutdown and agitator line.

@Henkka , about how many points does this team put up if healthy when you run your JFresh standing points above replacement analysis? (I understand rookies rank in at zero points but we know Danielson and Mazur will provide some positive value)

I'd love to have Merrill back purely for that stache and greasy flow.

Between him and Bertuzzi no longer being on the team, I miss having players who look like they're hanging out in Westland mall circa 1978.

 

[USAHockey97]

I think he, Kasper and Danielson will be more or less interchangable 1-3

That’s fair.

 

[stillwater]

Honestly, I'd attempt to trade for Elias Petterson. Is there risk? Of course, but his value has never been lower, and having a 1-2-3 punch down the middle of Peterson-Larkin-Kasper sounds great to me, especially when the D is anchored by Mo and Simon.

His value has never been lower for good reason.

Also, his substanial salary with also never be lower.

 

[ElProfessor]

If we miss on Marner…..and Toronto and Boston don’t bring back Tavares or Marner…..

We’ll be strong contenders for either. Their far and away #1 priority seems to be staying close to home…..

and I believe Detroit is the shortest flight to Toronto besides Ottawa

and there are closer teams to Boston, but Detroit’s still less than a 2hr flight

 

[stillwater]

If all his priorities include not uprooting his family, why doesn't he just stay in Toronto?

 

[ElProfessor]

If all his priorities include not uprooting his family, why doesn't he just stay in Toronto?

There’s a rumor Toronto offered him 3x7. Either that wasn’t good enough…or the rumor wasn’t true.

If we miss on Marner I’d go 4x8 for him. He wouldn’t need to play center here

 

[FMichael]

Replacement for Larkin as he ages.

Sad but true.

At 28 D-Boss ain't getting any younger/better and unless there's some improvements made over the summer his chance of playoff hockey is getting slim.