Detroit Red Wings - Preseason Evaluation - The Forwards

Finally the day has arrived where I can focus solely on the Red Wings...this should be fun, but where to begin?  Free agency was pretty lack luster as expected, no big splash.  We managed to lock up our RFA's - Restricted Free Agents. And we had, what looks like, a very good draft with 11 total picks. And trades, well there was nothing worth discussing.  And now we have the turmoil caused by Zetterbergs medical retirement throwing a wrench into the middle of our depth chart.

Luckily with Z's retirement it opens up quite a bit of cap space, assuming we're able to handle it by putting him on LTIR like we have been doing with Franzen. So that is how I am approaching this, that his cap hit will be on LTIR and not matter going forward.  So where we stand right now I have an unfinished depth chart, but don't worry it'll be finished by the end of this, with a total cap hit of $69.279 Million.  With the upper limit being $79.5 that is a good spot to be in.  Right now Capfriendly has us at almost $83 million, with 43 total contracts of 50 and 20 of 23 available roster spot.  Thats'snot a good place to be for a team that is not expected to compete for much this season.

I like that we should have plenty of cap space available by my roster.  I've never understood the necessity of teams spending to the absolute cap every season...it just screws you in the long run. It allows for much more flexibility in trading and signing players, to which we could and probably should try to do a bit of.  I wouldn't mind it if we were able to move out a defense man and bring in a veteran center...so long as he is no older than 30.  But good luck with that.  So without further ado...my depth chart for were we stand at the moment...remember this is unfinished so far.

This is obviously, not a good place to be, as there are a few things that seem to be missing; like a 6th defense man. Lil Bert also as a 1st line winger?  Not likely. But unfortunately this is very set in stone, there isnt a lot of wiggle room available here. Also the numbers on the side of each players name is their cap hit, which I have listed the totals off the right, only for players in starting positions.

I feel as well that here is a good place to note my view on setting line ups as well.  My belief is that you have one top line that obviously stands above the rest, this is your 1st line.  Your 2nd and 3rd lines should be a blur in today's game, and by blur I mean interchangeable.  One line may get more ice time than the other from game to game but really they should be able to match up and produce against any other teams bottom 9, and even compete with the opposing 1st lines.

The days of having your 1st line, 2nd line, 3rd line shut down guys/grind line, and then filler on the 4th line are gone.  If that is what you hold to dearly then you will never have a successful team in today's game.  I want to put all the players in my line up into a hat, reach in blindly and grab 3 names, and put together a solid line.  If you need a shut down line, its your 4th line.  I'm not saying the top 3 all need to be offensive dynamos either, the center on said line should be able to dictate what type of production you're going to receive from that line.  See A.A. as opposed to Nielsen in the line up above and imagine how the two have different playing styles that will drive their lines. 

Depth is the most important part of the game after having a number 1 center, d-man, and goalie.  Look at our most recent cup champions in Washington.  While their best players were up to the task and better than their opposition, their depth players got it done when it mattered the most.  Lars Eller and Devante Smith-Pelly where absolute monsters when they were needed. Go back to any championship team and you'll see how key the depth players on every team making all the clutch plays when it matters most.

Now that that is out of the way lets start to actually look at the Wings roster a bit, but please keep in mind this is what I would do.  So let us work on the forward situation 1st.  We want Zadina and Rasmussen in the line up, but who comes out?  There is a lot of money up there that cannot justifiably be benched.  I only see 2 options and those players are Frk and Svech, and in the end it will likely only be Frk.  I find it unfortunate that he seems to be the player who gets the short end of the stick, but it is what it is.  I like his size, what seems to be a good work ethic, and of course his cannon of a shot.  Lets not forget that he is the only right hand shot in this forward group as well other than Glenny, but i'm not looking for him to score goals.

Pulling Frk out leaves you now with the choice of Zadina or Rasmussen to put in the line up, I'm going with Ras.  He is an absolute monster! 6'5'', 210lbs at least.  He has great hands in tight and looks like he will be a major factor on the power play. Now it isnt to say that Zadina doesnt have these qualities as well, but he is a winger and Ras will be moving to center at some point soon.  With his positional variability he is a bit more useful, it is also important that he play with a center who knows the game as a whole like Neilsen does.  It will give him someone to learn from and to be able to cover some of those rookie mistakes.

Starting to shape up, now the question becomes where does Bert go?  I dont view him as a 1st line winger at this point, I'd rather Zadina be in the spot honestly, but I'm not talking anyone out of the line up at this point. Word on the street is that Zadina will be playing with Vanek and Athanasiou in the Red and White game in training camp, so we may get a serious look in the preseason. But I'm doubtful they give him a roster spot unless he scores a hat trick per game in the preseason.

 And also no, that 4th line is staying the way it is, with any luck it will at least make for a good shut down line.  In my humble opinion the only player there I would even want on this team is Helm, but I didnt sign them to those horrible contracts.  But back to Bert, the only other swap I could see is putting him on the 3rd line and moving Svech up to the 1st line.  Something tells me that Berts gritty style of play will work better with Mantha and Larkin though.  So we're going to keep a very young, but potentially incredible 1st line together.

The worst thing that could end up happening is that Jussi Jokinen gets signed after training camp.  If he is signed it would likely be for his ability in shootouts which is undeniable but unless we're going to flip him at the deadline there really is no point.  And with that our forward lines are set for the most part.  Look for Vanek to be dealt at the deadline though and then Zadina should pop up from Grand Rapids to fill the 2nd line wing for the remainder of the season.

There is only one other option here.  That is that with Zadina playing well so far with A.A and Vanek, he takes Gooses spot on the 2nd line.  Well with Nyquist not coming out of the line up we have to move him somewhere. So Goose takes Berts 1st line spot and Bert heads down to a 4th line spot.  Personally I pull Glenny out, though for this role it pains me to do as I value his face off ability.  But that is why I have Helm there as he was a center when he came into the league and can go back and forth.

Personally I'm not sure which option I like more.  The decision to sit certain players is not an easy one despite those who know me and my distaste for some players.  But it is what it is and I do not know which line up would be the best to start the season.  What changes would you make if? If any, feel free to comment and let me know.  As I said this is how I would go about it, not what the team will do.  But there you have it, the forward corps are set one way or the other.  I'll break down the defense and goal tending next and get that out to you very soon, stay patient.