Analyst Names 7 Red Wings Who Could Be Finished in Detroit

Red Wings boss Steve Yzerman made it pretty clear at the season-ending press conference: The team needs a significant change to get to the next level. In fact, he said, frankly, "We need better players."

And if the offseason target is new, "better" players, then some current Wings will undoubtedly have to be moved out of Motown. Max Bultman of The Athletic names no less than seven Detroit players who may have played their last game with the team. We'll go through his list, from most likely to move, on down:

Travis Hamonic
David Perron
TJ Compher
Michael Rasmussen
James Van Riemsdyk
Mason Appleton
Cam Talbot

Starting with Hamonic, the 35-year-old is an unrestricted free agent, and the only appearance he made after the Olympic Break in February was in garbage time: the final game of the season, after the Wings were eliminated. As Bultman writes, "it looks like his time in Detroit is over."

Perron, turning 38 next month, also a pending UFA, just completed his second stint with the Wings. But again, at his age, and diminished abilities, Bultman figures that Perron's time in Detroit is done.

28 points at a $5.1 cap hit is not money well-spent. That puts Compher squarely on the trade block. "The former Cup winner could have real value on the trade market, especially in a year in which the free-agent class (particularly at center) leaves much to be desired," writes Bultman.

From a couple of healthy scratches earlier in the season, to missed time due to injury later in the year, it would be no surprise to see Rasmussen moving on. He should be entering his prime, at 27, as Bultman notes, but instead, Rasmussen set five-year lows across the board, from goals, points and hits, to minutes played.

Now we get to the players who may or may not move on. Van Riemsdyk did what was asked of him, with 15 goals in just over 11 minutes of ice-time per night. But as a UFA, going into his age 37 season, and his 5-on-5 production being limited, "That all makes him a candidate to go elsewhere, though not a lock to do so."

Appleton had a tough first season in Detroit, but his "prior track record as a solid checking-line player could be enough for another team to call on him."

As for Talbot, the big issue that could push him to look elsewhere is the need to bring goalie of the future Sebastian Cossa up next season. Would Talbot, the pending UFA, want to be part of a three-goalie split?