When the Detroit Red Wings began last season with a logjam on defense, they figured it would sort itself out due to injuries.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) and Ben Chiarot (8) figure to be paired together again. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

The blue line instead was remarkably healthy and veterans who were newly signed (Justin Holl), newly extended (Olli Maatta, Jake Walman) and newly traded for (Jeff Petry) were competing for spots in the lineup and scratched at various times.

The blue line might be even more crowded to start 2024-25, with potentially eight defensemen on the season-opening roster. The only change in the top six from the end of last season sees Erik Gustafsson in and Gostisbehere gone.

We projected the forward lines on Monday; here is a look at the potential defense pairings and goaltending depth chart.

Defense pairings (left-right)

1. Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider

Chiarot was much-improved last season, evidenced in part by his plus-minus rating of minus-4 (from minus-31 the previous year), and was reunited midseason with Seider, in place of the since-traded Jake Walman. Seider might experience some lulls during the season but has been remarkably consistent, playing all 246 games and leading the team in ice time in each of his three seasons while continuously being matched up against top lines and the best players. Shayne Gostisbehere’s departure figures to put Seider back on the first power-play unit, which will increase his output.

2. Simon Edvinsson-Jeff Petry

Edvinsson, the sixth overall selection in 2021, finally will start the season on the NHL roster (though he’s still waiver-exempt if he unexpectedly regresses). The 21-year-old was promoted shortly after the trade deadline and gained valuable experience playing pressure-packed games in a top-four role. He figures to be reunited with the veteran Petry since they have chemistry and form a left-right shot pairing.

3. Olli Maatta-Erik Gustafsson

Gustafsson, signed to a two-year deal, replaces Gostisbehere as the only change in the top six from last season, it would seem. He’ll play on the power play but won’t come close to matching Gostisbehere’s production (56 points, including 29 on the man-advantage). The well-traveled Gustafsson (this is his eighth NHL team) will be a defensive upgrade. He shoots left but can play the right side. Maatta, despite being an occasional healthy scratch, was effective as a stay-at-home puck-mover and led the team with a plus-14 rating.

Extras: Justin Holl, Albert Johansson

Holl, a frequent scratch who played only three games after the All-Star break and 38 for the season, has two years remaining at a $3.4 million cap hit, making him impossible to move. Johansson established himself as a strong puck-mover during two seasons in Grand Rapids and might have gotten a look in Detroit late in the 2022-23 season if not for an injury. He is assured of being on the roster because he is waiver-exempt and they’re not going to waive a player they spent several year developing before getting a good look at him. It’s up to Johansson to show he belongs in the lineup.

Will miss the cut: No other defenseman appears close to making the NHL roster this season.

Goaltenders

1. Cam Talbot

2. Alex Lyon

3. Ville Husso

Lyon didn’t play the first five weeks of the season as the No. 3 goalie and ended up appearing in more games (44) than any Detroit goalie due to Husso’s injuries. Uncertainty about whether Husso will be healthy and how effective he’ll be prompted the Red Wings to sign Talbot, who’s coming off a strong regular season and can handle a heavy workload at age 37. A lighter workload (25-30 games) should be good for Lyon. Having a No. 3 goalie – if that’s where Husso lands on the depth chart – at a $4.75 million cap hit is far from cost-effective, but the club’s hands could be tied. Husso probably isn’t tradeable and sending him to Grand Rapids would not provide much cap relief ($1.15 million).