The Detroit Red Wings’ line combinations don’t appear to be the jigsaw puzzle they were a year ago after a flurry of offseason moves by general manager Steve Yzerman.
They will head into the 2024-25 season with only two new forwards (Vladimir Tarasenko and Tyler Motte) and one player promoted from the Grand Rapids Griffins (Jonatan Berggren), barring more moves, injuries or a preseason surprise.
Their top six and bottom six appear to be clearly defined for coach Derek Lalonde, entering his third season. Lines, as always, will be shuffled frequently, throughout the season and during games.
But for now, here is a projection of what the Red Wings’ forward lines might look like to start the season (left wing-center-right wing):
First line: Lucas Raymond-Dylan Larkin-Vladimir Tarasenko
The Red Wings signed Tarasenko for two years ($4.75 million average annual value) to help compensate for the offense they lost in the offseason. He tallied 23 goals and 55 points between Ottawa and Florida last season but should be capable of returning to his 30-goal form of 2021-22 with St. Louis (34 goals), playing on a top line and with more power-play minutes. Raymond took a huge step last season (31 goals, 72 points), particularly during the stretch run when the team was fighting for its playoff life. He will sign a huge contract this summer and be expected to continue his progression. Larkin, despite missing 14 games, scored a career-high 33 goals and averaged a career-best 1.01 points per game.
Second line: Alex DeBrincat-J.T. Compher-Patrick Kane
Kane and DeBrincat, former linemates with the Chicago Blackhawks, had good chemistry at times last season but can be better together. DeBrincat needs to be more consistent after a late-season slump (one goal and six assists in 19 games, with a 2.1 percent shooting percentage). Kane did remarkably well, coming off hip resurfacing surgery (20 goals, 47 points in 50 games) and figures to have a little more offense in him following a normal off-season and a training camp. Compher has averaged 18 goals and 50 points in the past two seasons. You’d like more production from a second-line center, but he still is their best option there.
Third line: Michael Rasmussen-Andrew Copp-Jonatan Berggren
Copp has not produced as much offense as the Red Wings anticipated when signing him to a five-year, $28 million contract in 2022 (22 goals, 75 points in 161 games) but has developed chemistry with Rasmussen as part of an energy and matchup line, in addition to penalty killing. Rasmussen, the ninth overall pick in 2017, has taken steps the past couple of seasons, using his 6-6 frame to effectively forecheck, win battles and provide a net presence. He missed the final 24 games in 2022-23 and last seven this past season due to injuries. Christian Fischer often played on the line with Copp and Rasmussen, but that would relegate Berggren to the fourth line, and the Red Wings need Berggren in their top nine for his offense. Berggren produced 15 goals in 67 games in 2022-23 but concerns about his defensive play led to a season spent mostly in Grand Rapids, where he averaged more than a point a game (56 goals in 53 games). He no longer is waiver-exempt.
Fourth line: Joe Veleno-Tyler Motte-Christian Fischer
The Red Wings are the seventh NHL team for Motte, a native of St. Clair, Mich., and another former Michigan Wolverine. The checking-line center figures to play extensively on the penalty kill. This could be a make-it-or-break-it season for Veleno with an organization that has several forward prospects poised to reach the NHL over the next couple of seasons. He’s not going to be a scorer, so he needs to be a reliable checker and energy player. Fischer is back as a forechecker and penalty killer who is capable of providing a little more offense than he did last season (five goals, 19 points).
Extras: None. If the team carries eight defensemen and three goaltenders, as seems to be the case initially, it will be limited to 12 forwards. If there’s a short-term injury, they can recall a forward from Grabd Rapids or Lalonde can dress seven defensemen, which he sometimes prefers.
Will miss the cut: Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson.
Mazur, a scrappy bottom-six winger, and Kasper, a two-way center drafted eighth overall in 2022, are getting closer but there doesn’t appear to be roster spots for them. They likely will start the season with the Griffins but figure to be the first callups due to injuries. As always, prospects who are waiver-exempt will only be on the NHL roster if they’re playing regularly, not as extras.
Danielson, a center taken ninth overall in 2023, is just starting his pro career and will need some development time in the AHL, unless he excels in camp and the preseason and forces his way onto the roster like Raymond did in 2021.
