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For the previous entry in this series of 2022-23 season previews where I cover the Dallas Stars, click here.
Detroit goaltender, Alex Nedeljkovic (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Detroit Red Wings are one of the big winners of the offseason this year. After producing two of the top rookies in the NHL last year -- literally the top rookie with Moritz Seider winning the Calder Memorial Trophy, and Lucas Raymond finishing fourth in voting -- Detroit turned to free agency in order to bolster their roster, and add some top notch veteran talent in order to compliment their extremely impressive young core.
Key additions for the Detroit Red Wings feature big names like Andrew Copp, who had a career year last season with both the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers, posting a career high in points with 53, goals with 21, and assists with 32. Copp and the Red Wings agreed to a 5-year, $28.125 million deal. Copp is going to slot in nicely as Detroit's second-line center, and is the Red Wings' biggest acquisition this offseason.
Detroit also brought in defenseman, Ben Chiarot, on a 4-year contract, signed goalie Ville Husso to a 3-year deal after acquiring him in a trade with the St. Louis Blues, David Perron signed to a 2-year deal, Dominik Kubalik also signed a 2-year contract after scoring 32 points with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, Olli Maatta came in on a 1-year deal, Robert Hagg on another 1-year deal, and to cap it all off, they hired new head coach, Derek Lalonde.
And breath! What a busy and productive offseason for Detroit.
I've already mentioned rookie sensations Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, but those aren't the only exciting names on this Detroit Red Wings roster. Captain Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri, and most excitedly for me, goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.
I have always been a huge fan of Nedeljkovic, dating back to his rookie year with the Carolina Hurricanes. I was absolutely dumbfounded when the news broke that Carolina couldn't work out a deal with the Ohio native, and was traded to Detroit for Jonathan Bernier and a 2021 third round pick.
Although Nedeljkovic had a bit of a mediocre season last year after having an impressive rookie campaign, I expect him to have a bounce back season in 2022-23. Hot take incoming, but I'm so confident in Nedeljkovic's abilities that I think he could compete for a spot as a top-10 goalie in the NHL this year.
I am extremely high on this Detroit Red Wings team. Although they're an Original Six rival of the Rangers, I am excited to see if they can make a run at the playoffs this year after having missed the postseason for the last six seasons. If there is any one man in the entire league that I would trust when it comes to rebuilding my team, it's Steve Yzerman.