The Red Wings’ biggest causes for concern in the 2024-25 season

Detroit Red Wings make big moves in NHL Free Agency take a step forward. These moves were different Big leaps forward for the likes of JT Compher in previous years. However A 2-year contract was signed with Vladimir Tarasenko and pairing him with Patrick Kane is something fans can be excited about. Even if Tarasenko and Kane’s best days are behind them.

It also made sense why the Red Wings made the moves they did. Prospects improved in the minors as Detroit made its first moves to make the roster more competitive on the ice. It worked, as the Winged Wheel came within one point of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now is the time to add veterans to strengthen the roster and give kids a chance to succeed.

Unfortunately, the good vibes from last season can now be found. The Red Wings are 9-10-2 entering Wednesday night’s matchup with the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena. Currently, only the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadians have fewer points in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings are on track for a top 10 pick in the draft rather than a playoff spot.

There is belief that Detroit can turn things around. After all, they did so after a brutal run of form in November and December last season. However, fans should not expect a repeat of the performance in 2024-25. There are two reasons why Red Wings fans should be worried about the team in the 2024-25 season.

Red Wings are terrible offensively in 5v5

One of the Red Wings’ biggest disappointments in 2024-25 It was their offense in 5v5. Detroit nearly failed to score when both teams were at full strength. In fact, it looks like the Winged Wheel is trying to send the puck into the net.

According to Evolving Hockey, the Red Wings have the worst Goals Per 60 Minutes in the Eastern Conference at 5v5 (1.61). In fact, only the Nashville Predators are worse at scoring at full strength. This is not an extremely poor performance either. Detroit has the Worst Expected Goals Per 60 Minutes in the entire NHL at 5v5 (2.05).

When we look at the issue in more detail, an even bleaker picture emerges. According to Evolving Hockey, the Red Wings are shooting 6% at 5v5, allowing 28 goals on 407 shots. This puts them on pace to score just 106 goals at full strength in the 2024-25 season. For comparison’s sake, they scored 175 goals in 5v5 last year. If they keep up the same pace in 2024-25, that would be Detroit’s lowest number of goals scored at 5-on-5 in a scheduled 82-game season since 2019-20.

This is no surprise when you examine who has scored for the team this year. Dylan Larkin leads Detroit with 12 goals so far. Behind him are Alex DeBrincat with eight goals and Lucas Raymond with five goals. Raymond is heating up, but overall Detroit’s scoring depth isn’t there in 2024-25.

Patrick Kane scored three goals in the first 20 games of the season and is currently injured. Meanwhile, Vladimir Tarasenko has just two goals since entering the season with some expectations. Major signings also did not yield the results as initially predicted.

The Red Wings can find a second possession and score more goals. But finding second gear while starting from absolute scratch is still not good enough for this team to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Big changes are needed if they really want to get their offense going at full strength.

Detroit has limited flexibility to make necessary changes

The Red Wings need to make big changes to their roster. Unfortunately they don’t have a lot of flexibility at the moment. Winged Wheel Has $3.11 million in cap space At this point, according to PuckPedia. Detroit creates some space thanks to Olli Maatta trade at the beginning of the year.

However, it seems unlikely that the Red Wings will make a similar move. Maatta was a trade candidate for several reasons. He entered the season with an expiring contract. It was easy for a team like the Utah Hockey Club to accept the $3 million cap hit.

Other players are earning big salaries for Detroit this year. It’s not the lack of big contracts that puts a constraint on their ability to make changes, although that certainly doesn’t help. It’s the number of bad contracts that causes the limitation.

JT Compher joins the Red Wings as a potential top-six center. But he is now Detroit’s fourth-line center. In addition, names such as Andrew Copp, Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot and Ville Husso could not meet their salaries.

The Red Wings need a shake-up in their arm, but it’s difficult to make the kind of move they need. To be fair, general manager Steve Yzerman is no shrinking violet. However, given the way he has built the squad, it will be difficult for him to get the team going.