{"id":390517,"date":"2026-01-04T17:42:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/390517\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T17:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T17:42:17","slug":"nhl-player-grades-detroit-red-wings-performance-review-at-midpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/390517\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Player Grades: Detroit Red Wings Performance Review at Midpoint"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the season officially reaching the halfway mark, it\u2019s time to give a fair rating of how the Red Wings players have been to this point. I\u2019ll do it by letter grades as it fits the \u201creport-card\u201d theme best. I\u2019m going to be comparing players to the rest of the league, not just compared to each other or expectations. So if you see some of the best Red Wings skaters with relatively low grades, it\u2019s because they\u2019re being compared to the elite players in the NHL.<\/p>\n

\"\"Moritz Seider for the Detroit Red Wings | NHL.com<\/p>\n

Honor Roll:<\/p>\n

Moritz Seider, A+ Two-Way Complete Defenceman<\/p>\n

Seider is no longer just a darling amongst Red Wings fans; he\u2019s an all-world defenseman. His offence has taken a step forward that I didn\u2019t see coming. Seider is tied for 6th in scoring by a defenseman and is the best defender on that list. Seider is in serious conversation for the Norris trophy and has been a top-three defenseman this season (and might not be number two or three). His deployments are slightly eased, so some credit goes to Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka for helping share the load. But Seider is nonetheless the biggest difference maker in Detroit. In December, Raymond, Larkin, and DeBrincat have been cold at times, but their record is incredible because Seider alone got hot. That\u2019s what a superstar looks like.<\/p>\n

Lucas Raymond, A- Playmaking Winger<\/p>\n

Lucas Raymond has been Detroit\u2019s most consistent forward this season. He\u2019s been grabbing points constantly throughout this year, even while on relatively colder spells. His goal scoring leaves a little to be desired, and his production at even strength isn\u2019t quite elite, but Raymond has been fantastic nonetheless. Hopefully, the ever-streaky Lucas Raymond will get hot soon and propel himself towards that 90-point mark.<\/p>\n

Alex DeBrincat, A- Scoring Winger<\/p>\n

Alex DeBrincat has another level to his game. Any time he is put on the top line with Raymond and Larkin, they have gone ballistic. Unfortunately, it\u2019s something they don\u2019t always do because of his chemistry with Patrick Kane. It says a lot that DeBrincat can still produce at a high level away from the team\u2019s best players. As I write this, DeBrincat is on a bit of a cold spell. Similar to Raymond, if it breaks, he\u2019s going to be pushing that A-level by the end of the season.<\/p>\n

\"RedRed Wings captain Dylan Larkin fighting off a check | (AP Photo\/Duane Burleson)AP<\/p>\n

Teacher\u2019s Pets: <\/p>\n

Dylan Larkin, B+ Two-Way Center<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think it\u2019s crazy to say Larkin has had a ho-hum month. Relative to his ungodly October, it seems Larkin has come back down to earth. His skating and scoring look as pure as ever but he just doesn\u2019t seem to be getting it done at even strength as much as you\u2019d want him to. He\u2019s currently 19th in scoring among centres. I do believe there is another gear for Larkin this season, but even as he is, he can still steal games for the Red Wings at his best. <\/p>\n

Simon Edvinsson, B+ Defensive Defenceman<\/p>\n

Simon Edvinsson has been great this season alongside Mo Seider. I do think that his pairing with Axel Sandin-Pellikka wasn\u2019t great, and his early-season play was inconsistent at best. It does seem like, post-Hughes rumours, he has turned a page. His pairing with Seider has been one of the best in the NHL by functionally every metric possible. It\u2019s not just Seider being incredible and carrying him, Seider couldn\u2019t bring Chiarot to these levels. Edvinsson is playing a serious role in this team\u2019s success and he seems to have a very underrated clutch gene.<\/p>\n

Patrick Kane, B Playmaking Winger<\/p>\n

Showtime still has it. If anything, he seems to be a bit more rejuvenated than he has in the past. Maybe it\u2019s the Olympics, maybe it\u2019s him getting adjusted to his hip. Whatever it is, Kane has been really sharp. He still doesn\u2019t really defend, and he does struggle to stay healthy at times, but it is far from a problem. Kane still brings too much to this team offensively to complain about.<\/p>\n

Ben Chiarot, B- Defensive Defenceman<\/p>\n

Ben Chiarot has really taken a step this season. He\u2019s never really been a top-four defenceman, at least not without a really good running mate. This season, though, playing with a rookie Sandin-Pellikka, who is fairly error-prone, Chiarot has really stood his ground. He\u2019s physical, defensively intelligent, and has a great compete level. Contract year bumps are a real thing, and no matter where he signs, Chiarot has earned his payday.<\/p>\n

Emmitt Finnie, B- Grinder<\/p>\n

What a story Emmitt Finnie has been. From seventh-rounder to top-line winger in what felt like an instant. He\u2019s earned the spot, too; it\u2019s not been given. Kasper, JVR, and even Copp have played well enough for a look at the top line spot. Finnie has been a cut above them. He\u2019s the honey badger that Raymond and Larkin love. Ironically, I think he actually plays best with Nate Danielson, but that\u2019s for the coaches to decide. As of now, Red Wings fans can enjoy Finn-sanity on the top line.<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Copp for Detroit | Photo: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Last-Minute Submitter Club:<\/p>\n

Andrew Copp, C+ Grinder<\/p>\n

Copp has been really good since finding his way to the second line. Hell, even with John Leonard Copp has been able to be productive. Certain players just play better in bigger roles. It was a similar story last season and assuming Copp can stay healthy this season, Detroit is going to have a really responsible center to help them grab some extra points down the stretch. Copp continues to be one of the most underrated Red Wings on the team, and it\u2019s finally starting to show on the stats sheet.<\/p>\n

James Van Riemsdyk, C+ Net-Front Finisher<\/p>\n

Well, the depth scoring problem has an answer. All season, JVR has done what he was brought in to do: score goals. The guy might score 20 goals in less than 70 games while playing in the bottom six. He\u2019s brought out the best in guys like Compher and Rasmussen since playing with them. Like Kane, Van Riemsdyk has aged gracefully.<\/p>\n

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, C Offensive Defenceman<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a rookie. That\u2019s the biggest thing with all of this. It\u2019s a lot to learn for the guy, and he\u2019s doing it with a big load defensively. His -17 rating isn\u2019t ideal, but again, he\u2019s learning a lot. We\u2019re seeing some serious flashes with him. He\u2019s making it happen on the second power play and even at even strength, better than I thought he would. If Seider wasn\u2019t dominating offensively, ASP might get more top power play looks to pad the stats. He\u2019s been alright, but there is also a lot of room to grow.<\/p>\n

Nate Danielson, C Playmaking Center<\/p>\n

My God, this guy can\u2019t finish. That sounds harsh, I love Nate Danielson, I really think he can be an elite center. But seriously, the guy could easily have a bunch more goals if his finishing improved. Even taps in, he can struggle with, and both his goals have been deflected in off his body. I\u2019ve written it before that he needs a more powerful shot, and hopefully DeBrincat, Van Riemsdyk, or Kane can help him find it. Otherwise, he has been pretty typical for a rookie center.<\/p>\n

Michael Rasmussen, C Puck-Protecting Forward<\/p>\n

Talk about turning a corner. Rasmussen has really found his game as of late. His play with the puck has improved a ton, and his creativity as of late has really impressed me. I\u2019ve also loved his synergy with Compher and JVR. He\u2019s been much better as of late, if he can keep it going I could see him recording a sneaky 30 points in a really small role.<\/p>\n

John Gibson, C Goaltender<\/p>\n

Ask me in two months for a better answer. In December, I think Gibson has been incredible. Before that, I think Gibson was legitimately the worst player on the team. The jury is still out on whether he just needed time to adjust or if he just happened to get hot. All will be determined in due time.<\/p>\n

Cam Talbot, C Goaltender<\/p>\n

Cam Talbot has been a pretty steady backup for Detroit. For the most part, he hasn\u2019t had too many bad games, especially not when he\u2019s been rested. I think Talbot is where he should be this season, a backup goaltender who can spot-start well. His keeping this up depends a lot on John Gibson\u2019s play.<\/p>\n

Mason Appleton, C- High-Motor Grinder<\/p>\n

Appleton does what he was signed to do really well. He plays a solid checking game, and his offensive game is fairly limited. His stint on the top line at the start of the year was impressive, but between injuries and inconsistent play at times, Appleton hasn\u2019t really done too much. I don\u2019t think anyone is mad at him while he\u2019s on the ice, he just doesn\u2019t really wow you either.<\/p>\n

\"DetroitMarco Kasper for Detroit | AP Photo\/Duane Burleson<\/p>\n

Office Hours Regulars:<\/p>\n

Marco Kasper, D+ Grinder<\/p>\n

It hurts me to say this. Kasper was my favourite player for a lot of last season, but he just hasn\u2019t been good this year. It\u2019s a whole lot of nothing with Kasper at times. He\u2019s played with pretty much everyone in the lineup, and he just hasn\u2019t been able to produce or keep up with them like he used to. He leads the team in hits, which is nice, but the ceiling (and the floor for that matter) is much higher than this.<\/p>\n

J.T. Compher, D Defensive Center<\/p>\n

Compher is prone to those cardio games. He hasn\u2019t been awful this season, but I also think he needs to be better than this. Admittedly, a D feels low for Compher, but I don\u2019t think he has been better than the people above him. He just needs to show effort in every game, and I think he will continue to undo the bad rep he earned last season.<\/p>\n

Albert Johansson, D- Two-Way Defenceman<\/p>\n

Talk about a sophomore slump. Johansson has taken a serious step back this season. He just doesn\u2019t look like he has the same fire to his game that he had last season. Maybe it is just a slump, maybe there is more. But as it stands, Detroit is probably not wrong to look for a replacement somewhere. <\/p>\n

Jacob Bernard-Docker, D- Shot Blocking Defenceman<\/p>\n

Wow, what happened here? After October I loved Bernard-Docker I thought his minutes were always solid and he even showed some interesting flashes. The past two months have been really disappointing. He consistently ices the puck on bad passes, and consistently gets hemmed in his own zone. It\u2019s been rough.<\/p>\n

Travis Hamonic, D- Physical Defenceman<\/p>\n

Hamonic hasn\u2019t dazzled, but honestly, as a seventh defenseman, I don\u2019t hate it. He\u2019s been an okay penalty-killer. Other than that though, I do struggle for positives. Use him sparingly and it\u2019s probably fine.<\/p>\n

More to Read:<\/p>\n

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