The Detroit Red Wings are expected to be a wild card contender this season, the same way they ended last season one point out of a playoff spot. As much as there has been a lot of roster change by way of free agent departures, new signees and a couple trades, the Red Wings appear to have treaded water at most this offseason, at least on paper.
On paper, one can never predict how a season will wind up. There are many ways that a season can be flipped on its head in a positive way through players’ strong seasons, or in a negative way due to injuries and slumps. This season, there are some Detroit players who may be bound for breakout seasons, ones that could help the Red Wings inch forward toward the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at some candidates.
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
This season is going to require some flexibility from Erik Gustafsson. He’s slated to be a big piece of the power play, destined for far more minutes than his past season with the New York Rangers. He’s probably going to be a second pairing defenseman when the season starts, too. And for a big part of the season, might the left-handed Gustafsson also end up playing out of his comfort zone on the right side?
“We’re gonna find out,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said July 4 when asked about Gustafsson’s off-handed abilities. “He’s played back and forth. He’s a mobile guy, he’s been on different teams, he’s a veteran. … Ultimately, I’ll let Derek (Lalonde) decide on what he does, but I could certainly foresee him playing playing the right side.”
Questions of handedness aside, his overall deployment might put Gustafsson in prime territory for a breakout.
The Red Wings brought Gustafsson in for one reason: to run a power play and score points. He’s going to get more offensive minutes than he did last season, playing behind Adam Fox and a couple of budding young defensemen with the New York Rangers. Even in a diminished role, last season’s 31-point campaign was the third-highest of his career. With more leash may come more production.
Gustafsson’s potential for a breakout year isn’t untraveled territory. In fact, the player he was brought in to replace — Shayne…