Red Wings Still Exploring Options To Upgrade Defense

The Detroit Red Wings didn't make much of a splash in free agency, re-signing Patrick Kane ahead of time and bringing in James van Riemsdyk and Jacob Bernard-Docker on a one-year deal as well as Mason Appleton on a two-year deal.

Steve Yzerman, general manager of the Red Wings, said that he will explore options to add a top-4 defenseman, preferably a right shot, but doesn't have to be.

Right shot options the Red Wings have for next season include Moritz Seider, who is on the top pairing, Justin Holl who should be bought out, Bernard-Docker, and Axel Sandin Pellikka who will likely start in the AHL. That isn't a great look for a team with $12 million in projected cap space that should have been more active in finding an upgrade, even if it is a left shot d-man who has to play the other side. Albert Johansson might have to do that on the second pairing next season if someone isn't found.

The one and only UFA defenseman who would be an upgrade to what Detroit currently has is Matt Grzelcyk while a RFA option might include a trade for Bowen Byram. They would just be joining the party of many teams looking to acquire the Buffalo Sabres player on the trade market.

Ben Chiarot, being in the last year of his deal, allows the Red Wings to target either player I mentioned above because his money will come off the books and he will be moving on. Chiarot has played on his off side before, so he could move down to the second pairing and play with Simon Edvinsson.

A slim trade opportunity could be with Rasmus Andersson, but without an extension, it doesn't make sense for a fringe team to add a player like that for one year. Then if he gets an extension with Detroit, the right side would be a bit crowded and it wouldn't work with Seider, Sandin Pellikka, and Andersson. It isn't easy for the Red Wings to upgrade their defense at this point, but it is on them for sitting around and seeing all the viable options sign elsewhere when there's money to be spent in Detroit.