Detroit Red Wings: 2 Breakout Candidates For Next Season

With each season that passes, it seems as though every team has players who improve significantly. They often turn out to be prospects naturally, but players who have some experience in the league also can. In this segment, we will be looking at two potential breakout candidates from each team. We will also be setting a max age limit of 26 years old, so older players are not eligible for discussion.

In this piece, we will be focusing on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have had a very solid off-season and look a bit more competitive than before. Although the postseason still seems unlikely, there is reason for optimism when it comes to their future. These two players from them also appear to real breakout candidates for this upcoming season. They each are former first-round picks who are aiming to take that next step as NHLers.

Filip Zadina RW: This should be a big year for young forward Filip Zadina. After having 15 points in 28 games during the 2019-20 season, he followed that up with 19 points in 49 games. He produced a bit less than originally expected this past season, but when looking at how much the Red Wings struggled offensively as a unit, it makes sense. Zadina is still just 21 years old, so he surely has the potential to blossom this season. The addition of Pius Suter should also come in handy for him. Expect a big year from the kid.

Michael Rasmussen C/LW: In 40 games this season with the Red Wings, Rasmussen scored three goals and recorded 12 points. It was not a bad season for the 22-year-old center, but one has to wonder if he will take that next step offensively. He showed this season that he is truly ready for the NHL and should only get more comfortable from here. He also had 72 hits on the season, so it is clear that he is not afraid to shy away from the physical side of the game. If he becomes a bigger scoring threat, he could be a very nice player for the Red Wings. Expect to see him on their third-line and power play this season.

Honorable Mentions: Mitchell Stephens is also a player to pay attention to. The Red Wings acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this off-season. With Detroit, he should be a mainstay in their bottom-six. The 2015 second-rounder could thrive with more playing time. In 45 games over two seasons, Stevens scored three goals and had seven points.

Moritz Seider is also an obvious candidate. However, due to the fact that he's discussed in our prospect piece, we felt like shining a light on two other players.