3 Free Agent Defenceman That Detroit Should Target
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The Detroit Red Wings are heading into a very important off-season for the franchise, as the young core is beginning to mature and with a couple key additions could make their first return to the playoffs in nine seasons.
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One of the most glaring issues the team needs to address is its blue line. The defense produced 134 points, which ranked sixth in the NHL, but struggled to contain opposing attacks and finished in the bottom 12 in goals-against average at 3.16 last season.
The issue also extends to the crease, as regular starters Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon finished with goals-against averages of 2.93 and 2.81 respectively, ranking 33rd and 28th among NHL goalies with at least 30 starts.
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The Red Wings need a reset with their backend entirely and new bench boss Todd McLellan should help. With his insights and a new defensive structure that succeeded in a big way like during his time with the LA Kings, they should be able to defend better but will still need improvements.
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Steve Yzerman and company in Detroit's management team need to find better options than going back to veterans like Jeff Petry and Ben Chiarot, who are both past their prime.
Luckily for them, this off-season presents plenty of free agent defencemen that can be difference makers for the Red Wings. They currently rank 13th in projected available cap space with $21.3 million, according to PuckPedia.
Vladislav Gavrikov - Los Angeles Kings
The 29-year-old Russian native made his presence felt during the Kings first round series versus the Oilers and has generated many interested suitors in acquiring one of the most underrated defensive defenceman in the NHL.
Gavrikov is criminally underrated after posting a +26 plus/minus, which ranked among the top 12 in the NHL. He averaged just over 23 minutes per game, the second most on the Kings, and led the team in blocked shots with 140, which ranked 36th in the league.
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He also logged the third most shorthanded minutes across the NHL, at almost 270 minutes on the kill, underlining his value as one of the league's best penalty killers.
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Nate Schmidt - Florida Panthers
The 33-year-old veteran is a relatively cheap low-cost option that has proven to be highly effective for the Panthers, who may be on their way to their second straight Stanley Cup.
Schmidt could provide insights on what made the Panthers so successful with their elite defensive system that the Red Wings could learn from and incorporate it into their own.
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After recording 12 points and 34 hits through 22 games this postseason, he may be a bit of a hot commodity for a veteran blueliner to come in and work with a younger team so it may cost more than expected.
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Ryan Lindgren - Colorado Avalanche
Lindgren would be a valuable addition to the Red Wings' blue line, bringing steady defensive play and reliability. Last season, he averaged 19:42 of ice time over 72 games with the Rangers and Avalanche, adding 128 blocked shots and 80 hits.
He led the Rangers in penalty kill minutes the year prior and consistently drew heavy defensive zone assignments, showing he's trusted in tough situations. His career plus-minus of +54 since 2019–20 reflects his ability to keep opponents off the scoresheet.
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Lindgren won't drive offense but excels at limiting chances and supporting more mobile partners, making him an ideal addition to stabilize a top-four role and bolster the penalty kill.
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