Now that the 2025 NHL draft is over, the Detroit Red Wings can shift its focus to free agents. According to tradition, free agents can sign with the team starting from noon on July 1.
Steve Yzerman and the management team in Detroit have several issues that need to be addressed. They outline them in detail here.
One improvement that is no longer needed is in the network. Detroit won goalkeeper John Gibson from Petr Mrazek from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
However, there is still work to be done. Yzerman and Todd McLellan are keen to be a stronger team against it, create higher-level opportunities, and be more cohesive on defense.
Today, we will gain a deep dive into the few goals that can be achieved in the coming days. Please note that the rankings below are based on player talent, organizational fit and contract predictions.
Red Wing Priority 1: Moving forward on the front line
Target and contract forecast:
- RW Mitch Marner – Seven Years, $13 million AAV
- LW Nikolaj Ehlers – 7 years, $8.25 million AAV
- LW Brad Marchand – Three-year, $7.5 million AAV
- RW Brock Boeser – 7 years, $8 million AAV
Frontline strikers are Detroit’s most pressing demand. This will also be the hardest to achieve.
Mana is clearly the top player to offer this summer. In the 102-point campaign, he will have many suitors. Plus he will immediately jump the Red Wings’ top six into the playoff contender status.
The problem, though, is that Marner has so high demand that his chances of signing in Detroit are low. He may prefer the West (Las Vegas?) team to get rid of Toronto’s hot spotlight. Red Wings have cap space to offer high-altitude deals on a seven-year contract, but so do many teams. Of course, the new facilities in Detroit, the initial six statuses, the McClellan/Ezelman combination, the huge ownership and their status as emerging teams are all attracting, but other teams can offer attractive perks such as Prime location and tax-free state status.
The next floor is the better bets for Detroit-Ehlers, Marchand and Boeser. Last year, Ehlers scored 24 goals and 62 points for the Winnipeg Jets, and it has been consistent from a goal standpoint since entering the league. He is excellent when it comes to area entries and creating opportunities, but his defense is also strong. His 1.54 goals ranked fifth in five points per 60 points and fifth in five-pointers in the forward who scored more than 500 minutes last year.
With Marchand, you know what you are going to get. Obviously, production and abrasives are his business cards. He is 37 years old. He didn’t slow down much, but you have to doubt when the decline will accelerate. Plus, his playing style always causes damage.
Ultimately, Boeser is a winger who takes the first shot and does not bring a lot of opportunities for high-crisis. Of course, he is valuable, but it is not the best choice in Detroit. He is not a driver either.
Red Wings No. 2: Top 4 defensive players (or two)
Target and contract forecast:
- LD Vladislav Gavrikov – 7 years, $8.5 million AAV
- RD Aaron Ekblad – 7 years, $8.25 million AAV
- LD Ivan Provorov – 7 years, $7.75 million AAV
- RD Nick Perbix – Three Years, $3 Million AAV
- RD Brent Burns – A year, $5 million AAV
Like Mana above, Gavrikov is the most important choice here. According to the Hockey Statistics Bureau, he was one of the best defensive defenders in the league last year and recorded the highest defensive rating (+14.3). For reference, Moritz Seider finished ninth at +9.6.
Additionally, last season, Gavrikov showed 18th place in the match against elites, beating only the league’s best six goals and maintaining an aggressive shot and share of opportunity. If the Red Wings can sign him, they will have three real top defensive players on the roster, Seider and Simon Edvinsson are the others. Additionally, he will be reunited with Todd McLellan and Trent Yawney, who coached him in Los Angeles and helped him become his most important defensive defender.
Ekblad and Provorov are one step away from Gavrikov, but can still hold their own match times. Of course, Ekblad is a key figure in the Stanley Cup run in Florida (plus the final loss a year ago). Provorov also has the ability to exert both sides’ abilities. He is a highly mobile defender, more offensive than Ekblad.
Nick Perbix’s underrated defender is probably the sneaky red-winged one. The 6-foot-4 Blueliner plays a shocking match and is just starting to scratch his potential. Perbix was a former Olympian and had a great performance in transition, with a high score when it comes to entries on regional exits as well as offense.
I don’t think enough people are talking about how Nick Perbix is a great/reasonable price in Detroit and thriving with Simon Edvinsson. #lgrw
(h/t to @shutdownline) pic.twitter.com/nd75k8ghfl
— Tony Wolak (@TonyWolak) June 23, 2025
Finally, if Red Wings can get him to a one-year contract, Brent Burns can offer positive value. He and Jaccob Slavin are the top picks for Carolina against elite games, and he can still attack (29 points in 82 games last season).
If Red Wings can’t get top defenders, I totally hope they revisit their trade choices. In this case, K’andre Miller and Rasmus Andersson will be the most important goals.
Red Wing Priority 3: Second-line advance
Target and contract forecast:
- LW Patrick Kane – A year, $4.5 million AAV
- RW Andrei Kuzmenko – Three Years, $4.5 million AAV
There is a reason why there are only two players here. Kane is Plan A. Kuzmenko is Plan B. If Detroit can’t sign any player, they can bring in someone from the group below and insert it into the top six.
I totally hope Kane will re-sign with Red Wings. He built chemistry here with Detroit’s top forwards and powerhouses, and in addition to being motivated to keep his family alive.
Red Wings Priority 4: Depth Score
Target and contract forecast:
- RW Anthony Beauvillier – Three-year, $3.5 million AAV
- LW Gustav Nyquist – AAV for one year, $3.5 million
- RW Jack Roslovic – Three Years, $4 million AAV
- LW Anthony Mantha – AAV for one year, $1.5 million
- LW Victor Olofsson – Two years, $3.25 million AAV
Detroit needs deeper scoring – their bottom six didn’t generate enough offense in 2024-25. Beauvillier can help in this regard.
The 28-year-old scored 18 goals last season between Pittsburgh and Washington. In addition, he is five-on-five-on-IHDCF/60 (5.04) ranked 12th among NHL forwards in at least 500 minutes of the game.
Old friends Nyquist and Mantha might also be good additions. Nyquist is more flexible when it comes to roles and lineup attractions, but after tearing the ACLs early in the 2024-25 season, Mantha may get cheaper.
Roslovic named the Hurricanes 22 goals in a limited role, with his 1.17 goals in five, five matching the match between Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander. Some return is expected, but not as much as you think. Last year, he hit 15.8% in all shots, while his career average was 12.4%. Roslovic is also a versatile player – he can play all three forward positions on a special team and slide up and down the lineup. That said, he is probably the most expensive deep-scoring option for the players listed above.
Finally, Olofsson had a cannon, but didn’t offer much in terms of team defense. However, he will bring you 15-20 goals.
Red Wings Priority 5: Bottom Line Forward
Target and contract forecast:
- LW Michael Eyssimont – A year, $1 million AAV
- RW Mason Appleton – Two-year, $2.5 million AAV
- C Nico Sturm – Two-year, $2.5 million AAV
- C Nick Bjugstad – A year, $2 million AAV
- LW Andreas Athanasiou – A year, $1 million AAV
This category is essentially a substitute for Tyler Motte. Ideally, the Red Wings took over someone who could play multiple roles further in the roster, making it harder for the team to fight against and improve fine kills where possible.
Red Wing Priority 6: AHL Depth
Target:
- LW Max Comtois
- RD Cameron Crotty
- C Alex Limoges
- LW Carson Meyer
- LW Joe Snively
- LD Jarred Tinordi
Grand Rapids Griffins have several players set out and need to find a replacement to make up for Detroit’s highest prospects.
The last sentence
Yzerman was certainly busy last week, and that will continue as free agents open on Tuesday.
Ideally, Red Wings signed Ehlers, Gavrikov, Kane, Beauvillier and Eyssimont to meet their organizational needs. However, they may have to pay some salary to do so. This is a difficult task, but not impossible. Addressing these goals will allow Red Wings to position well within the Atlantic Division and provide them with a chance to enter the playoffs in 2026.
Data provision Puckiq,,,,, These three areas,,,,, nhl.com,,,,, Hockey Statistics Cardand Natural statistics skills.
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