Projecting the Detroit Red Wings' Opening Night Roster

We're now one week from the start of the NHL season. Teams are finalizing their rosters and signing their RFAs, and players are deep into their training camps and gearing up for pre-season action. The Red Wings are hoping to move another step forward in their rebuild, after years of stockpiling young prospects and developing them in the AHL and overseas. Steve Yzerman arrived in Detroit two years ago and has since been quietly at work, effectively navigating the draft and free agency just like he did in Tampa Bay and building his team from within. This year may be the first time we see them take a significant leap forward in that process, as their prospects begin to bubble up into the NHL roster and start making an impact. Helping that along are a few pieces Yzerman snagged out of free agency. The pieces are all in place, let's see how the roster shakes out. First, at forward:

Tyler Bertuzzi - Dylan Larkin - Filip Zadina

Pius Suter - Robby Fabbri - Lucas Raymond

Vlad Namestnikov - Michael Rasmussen - Adam Erne

Joe Veleno - Mitchell Stephens - Sam Gagner

Bobby Ryan

Givani Smith

Taro Hirose

Carter Rowney

As of this writing, Lucas Raymond currently leads the Red Wings in points in the preseason. It's going to be tough to deny him a spot on the team if he keeps playing like this. Add to that the fact that Jakub Vrana is out until February with a shoulder injury, and there is a spot open in the top 6 that Raymond could seize. There may even be two; Tyler Bertuzzi's unvaccinated status makes him a liability for the Wings any time they travel to Canada, which may mean he'll miss a number of games this season. Raymond could push Filip Zadina off of the top line if he plays well enough, or he may end up taking Bertuzzi's spot, but for now, it's safe to expect him on the second line. Bobby Ryan may make a return if Raymond ends up at 1LW, but currently still remains on a PTO. The addition of Pius Suter out of Chicago makes the Wings' top 6 a lot deeper, and he may swap with Fabbri at centre if the team doesn't like him on the wing. Meanwhile, Joe Veleno needs to make his case for a full-time roster spot. He's currently penciled in on the 4th line, but if he doesn't bring it at camp Givani Smith will take over that spot.

On defence, a highly-touted prospect looks to make the big league on a full-time basis:

Danny DeKeyser - Filip Hronek

Nick Leddy - Moritz Seider

Marc Staal - Troy Stetcher

Jordan Oesterle

Gustav Lindstrom

Dan Renouf

You could have penciled in Moritz Seider on that second pair way back in July. Seider has been a bright spot in the team's pipeline since he was drafted two years ago; Yzerman's first pick as the team's GM. His play, along with the play of DeKeyser, will dictate how the Wings' blueline will look by the end of the year. DeKeyser returned from back surgery last year and didn't ever find his game, although it was coming around as the season drew to a close. If he can maintain that momentum, that top pairing spot will be his. If the recovery continues to hold him back, Nick Leddy was brought in as insurance and can be moved up to that top pair if necessary.

In goal, a 2021 Calder nominee was brought in to bolster the Red Wings' tandem:

Tomas Greiss

Alex Nedeljkovic

Calvin Pickard

Few teams in the league can boast a tandem as solid as a Greiss/Nedeljkovic duo. Greiss' game came along as the season progressed last year, and Nedeljkovic was a major factor in getting the Hurricanes to the second round of the 2021 Playoffs. Each one of them is capable of stealing games and together should haul the Red Wings a few spots up the league standings all on their own. Should an injury occur, Calvin Pickard still has game to give, and while he shouldn't be relied on in a full-time role, as a fill-in he can get the job done.

What do you think of this Red Wings' roster, and what would you change?

Photo credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports