The Detroit Red Wings are off to a sluggish start, and the biggest issue is staring everyone right in the face: goals are hard to come by. Through five games, Detroit sits fourth-last in the NHL and is averaging just two goals per night.
Viktor Arvidsson, brought in over the offseason, leads the team with three. Alex DeBrincat has two.
Five others have chipped in once, while Lucas Raymond remains the only notable skater still without a goal.
That kind of production leaves little mystery about where the trouble is. Beyond the off-ice drama around the club, the Red Wings simply do not have enough scoring punch right now.
That is why they are being linked to possible help, especially with a Dylan Larkin trade in the conversation. Without their former captain, the offense would be even thinner, even though Larkin has gone scoreless in his last two games after opening the season with two points.
If Detroit does go shopping for help, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun says the organization has already had internal discussions about two free-agent options: Patrik Laine and David Perron.
"The Detroit Red Wings are another team that has had talks with the Laine camp, but the Red Wings, in case you haven’t heard, have a lot going on these days. Perron, who is skating back home in Sherbrooke, Quebec, staying in shape, had 13 goals in 65 games split between the Ottawa Senators and the Red Wings last season. I wouldn’t rule out the Red Wings as a potential reunion fit."
Pierre LeBrun
There is room for a move like that on Todd McLellan’s roster. He has been working with an 11-forward, 7-defensemen setup, which would allow Detroit to add a veteran forward without completely reshaping the lineup, though it would mean taking one young defenseman off the blue line. A scorer like Laine could even slide into a lower-line role and still provide real value as an offensive specialist.
Laine and Perron would bring very different things to the table. Laine offers pure scoring and would most likely be used as a power-play weapon, which is exactly the kind of boost Detroit needs. Perron brings more edge and versatility, but not the same ceiling as Laine when it comes to finishing chances.
The Red Wings had hoped Perron would help at last season’s trade deadline, but that move never really took off. He managed only three goals and no assists in 16 games as Detroit missed the playoffs again.
Laine would at least give the fan base reason to believe there is another scoring surge in him, something that would remind people why he went second overall in the 2016 draft. Perron, on the other hand, feels much more like the kind of addition that could fall flat.
And for a front office already drawing plenty of negative noise, that is the last thing Detroit needs.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Trade Talk Now Hinges On One Massive Detroit Decision
Dylan Larkins trade request has put the Red Wings in a familiar but uncomfortable spot, with the captain holding a full no-trade clause and control over where this situation goes next. Among the teams believed to be in the mix, Florida stands out because of Larkins existing familiarity with some of the Panthers players and management from past international play, which makes the fit easier to imagine than most.
For the Panthers, the appeal is obvious. Theyre dealing with injuries and always have to juggle the salary cap carefully, so any pursuit of Larkin would have to be measured against the roster consequences of making it happen. The question now is whether Detroit and Florida can align on a framework that makes sense for both sides, especially if the price eventually requires a significant piece from the Panthers current lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Appear Ready To Lock In A Core Scorer
The Red Wings appear to be on the verge of keeping one of their most important finishers in place, with Alex DeBrincats strong play this season making him an obvious priority in Detroit. After arriving as a proven scorer, he has quickly become a central piece of the lineup, and the organization now seems ready to reward that impact with a long-term commitment.
Multiple reports from Elliotte Friedman, Chris Johnston and Emily Kaplan point to an agreement that would keep DeBrincat tied to Detroit for years to come, a sign the club wants more than a short window of production from a player who has already changed the look of its attack. The only step left is the formal word from the team, which appears to be coming soon. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Found A Dangerous New Line But Still Let One Slip Away
Alex DeBrincat gave Detroit a much-needed spark, scoring twice and adding an assist in a back-and-forth game against New Jersey, but it still ended in a 5-4 loss for the Red Wings. The Devils spread the offense around with goals from Jesper Bratt, Evan Rodrigues, Anthony Mantha and Nico Hischier, while Detroit had enough firepower to stay in it and make the night feel like more than just another defeat.
The shot margin was part of the story, too, with New Jersey testing Detroit more often over the course of the game. Even so, the Red Wings left the building knowing they had stumbled onto a line that created real problems for the Devils, the kind of combination that can change how opponents have to defend them if it keeps showing up. [Read more 🡒]