The Detroit Red Wings are back on the ice tonight, opening an 84-game season against the New York Rangers with plenty still hanging over the organization. But inside the room, the focus appears to be on the work in front of them rather than the noise around them.
That was the message from Moritz Seider at NHLPA Media Day.
"There's so much about this club that makes it so special," said defenseman Moritz Seider on NHLPA Media Day. "You get reminded every time you walk into that precious building playing in front of great fans that are dying for the sport. I think that's what I'm most excited about: coming back and playing with fans."
Seider’s words fit the mood around the team well enough. There is plenty of frustration outside the locker room, and for good reason, with the long stretch of inaction from ownership and the front office weighing on everyone. Still, that anger isn’t aimed at the players, and it doesn’t erase the things that could make this season interesting.
One of the biggest reasons for optimism is the youth on the roster. The opening group may not scream excitement at first glance, but nearly half the players listed are under 25. There’s a quiet youth movement underway in Detroit, and the current chaos may actually help it along by lowering the spotlight on the kids.
With the attention pulled toward Dylan Larkin, the GM search and the mess in the front office, young players like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Axel Sandin-Pellikka can settle in without the same pressure to impress right away. Anton Johansson’s debut comes with the usual nerves, but the environment around him may make that first step a little easier. And Marco Kasper could be ready to launch what the piece calls his revenge tour.
There’s a real chance this season becomes about a changing of the guard. It may come with plenty of rough nights, but it can also mark the beginning of a new era. The only way out, as they say, is through.
That same logic carries into the trade deadline. If the season goes sideways even after encouraging years from the younger players, Detroit could shift into seller mode and start collecting value for next season. This time, though, the Red Wings would be entering that market with a strong collection of pieces to move.
Veteran defensemen Justin Faulk and perhaps even Ben Chiarot could draw interest, since teams are always hunting for help on the back end. Up the middle, Andrew Copp and J.T.
Compher could also be attractive to clubs looking for center depth. In goal, John Gibson could bring back a major return, especially from a team like the Edmonton Oilers, who are always in need of goaltending.
Even Dylan Larkin could become part of that conversation and still bring back a significant haul.
If things break the right way, Detroit could come out of this retool with a top-five pick and a stack of assets to work with. That would leave the franchise with a lot to build on, even if the path there is messy.
For now, though, the journey begins tonight. One way or another, the season will show what Shawn Horcoff can do for the Red Wings.
In Other News...
Red Wings Suddenly Face New Dylan Larkin Trade Speculation
Aleksander Barkovs injury has quickly become a storyline worth watching well beyond Florida, because the ripple effects could eventually reach Detroit and Dylan Larkin. Any serious concern about Barkovs health also brings the Panthers roster picture and salary cap into sharper focus, and around the league that kind of uncertainty tends to stir up trade chatter long before anyone is ready to make a move.
For the Red Wings, the intrigue is less about what has been reported publicly than about how fast the conversation can change when a contenders situation shifts. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently weighed in on the evolving complications around no-trade clauses, and Brad Marchand responded, underscoring how messy these situations can get once they start to intersect with roster construction and player leverage. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Open Season With A Dylan Larkin Problem Already
Dylan Larkins injury is forcing the Red Wings to make an early-season adjustment to a lineup already carrying plenty of baggage. The captain is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and Detroit will have to start the schedule without its top center while also trying to move forward after his trade request and a round of management changes that have already put the organization on edge.
Andrew Copp is the most obvious candidate to absorb more of the center load, with J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson also in the mix for expanded roles. It is not the kind of opening-week test Detroit wanted, especially with hopes that Larkin can be back quickly, but it does give the coaching staff an immediate look at how the rest of the forward group handles added responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Sidney Crosbys Contract Situation Just Took A Different Turn
Simon Edvinssons contract situation has become a quiet but notable subplot for Detroit as the restricted free agent remains unsigned and continues skating in Sweden while the Red Wings keep talking with his camp. The sides are still in discussions, and the longer this drags on, the more it stands out as one of the teams lingering business items with the season approaching.
There is no public sign of panic from Detroit, but there is enough movement around the league to keep the situation worth watching. With other teams monitoring the broader market for young defensemen, the Red Wings are left balancing patience with the need to settle a deal on a player who remains part of their future plans. [Read more 🡒]