3 Offseason Targets For Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are right on the cusp of making it back into the playoffs, but there have been a number of players who just didn't perform up to par this season. This is where there needs to be changes. The team already addressed goaltending ahead of this offseason, but something has to be done with the forward group and defense.

Neal Pionk

The Red Wings have a few very talented young defensemen either on the team or just about to arrive in Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin Pellikka. This is while there are players like Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot, and Justin Holl on the team. I believe at least two of the veteran group past their prime needs to be moved. While freeing up cap space and roster spots, a big target has to be acquired. On the free agent market, there may be even less options than we see right now. The only acceptable upgrades should be Neal Pionk or Aaron Ekblad. I like Pionk and how he's played the last couple of seasons. This would be the right piece on the back-end to help the team make that leap.

Yanni Gourde

Yanni Gourde was once in Tampa Bay when Steve Yzerman was, so there is familiarity. Gourde is a veteran now, but still plays a hard game that will not only push the Red Wings further late in the season where they struggle and in the playoffs if they make it there, but gives energy in games with his style of play. The bottom-6 really needs a boost that Gourde can provide. He should fit in on the third line, thus, pushing someone on the fourth line out of the lineup.

Kyle Palmieri

The future of Patrick Kane is up in the air. He clearly wants to win and he might see it as he gave Detroit a try without playoffs either of the years. Assuming that is the case, the Red Wings will have to look elsewhere. Kyle Palmieri should be one of the players heavily considered. He is a veteran, but he won't have to be signed for more than four years at a fair price and he has 24 goals on the season. That would sit him fourth on Detroit. This team needs some of everything and goals are amongst the most important.