Robert Thomas, the Red Wings need Robert Thomas. As much as I\u2019d love to make another \u201cplease get Thomas\u201d piece, Detroit is likely going to need to get creative elsewhere. I alluded to it in a previous post, but Robert Thomas might not be an option for Detroit, no matter how much they\u2019re willing to offer.<\/p>\n
Robert Thomas or not, Detroit has a handful of needs that they need to tend to if they want to make the playoffs, much less make any noise if they get there. Detroit is in a good spot for the first time in a long time, and if they make a trade to address some of these needs, they can really start making some noise.<\/p>\n
I do think there are some pretty strong misconceptions about what Detroit needs at the deadline. At the very least, I think the need for some of these things is pretty overblown. So let\u2019s look at what Detroit\u2019s biggest needs are and who on the market can work to solve those problems.<\/p>\n
The Biggest Need Isn\u2019t Defense: <\/p>\n
Look, we\u2019ve all seen the constant push for a top-four defenseman in Detroit. I\u2019m not opposed to getting a top-four defenseman because I do think it will help, but if Detroit is going to concentrate assets in one area, it shouldn\u2019t be on defense. I know that sounds crazy for a team currently trotting out Jacob Bernard-Docker on their top pair in Simon Edvinsson\u2019s absence, but even without Edvinsson, the offence has been pretty objectively fine.<\/p>\n
Where am I getting this from? Well, let\u2019s start with regular box score stats to get started. Since Simon Edvinsson went out, let\u2019s take a look at the raw production of this team\u2019s forward group. As a precursor to this, I understand that having a defense pair who can dominate minutes allows the forwards to have the puck, and without Edvinsson, they haven\u2019t had the luxury. Regardless, these forward numbers just aren\u2019t acceptable.<\/p>\n
Line 1: Kasper-Larkin-Raymond, 5GF 7GP<\/p>\n
Line 2: DeBrincat-Copp-Kane, 5GF 7GP<\/p>\n
Line 3: Finnie-Compher-Van Riemsdyk, 3GF 7GP<\/p>\n
Line 4: Soderblom-Rasmussen-Appleton, 0GF 7GP<\/p>\n
Power Play: *both units*, 2GF 21 Attempts<\/p>\n
For all of you keeping track of the average here, that\u2019s 1.85 goals per game at even strength and just 2.14 as a whole. The power play being below 10% is also something ridiculous, given the amount of money that is put out there on that unit. Admittedly, Detroit\u2019s offence from the blue line has been negligible since Ghostisbehere left, but when the guys you pay to score can\u2019t score, it\u2019s a problem.<\/p>\n
Comparatively, let\u2019s look at the defensive numbers from this group during the stretch. Looking purely at even strength, let\u2019s take a look at how many games the defense was good enough for Detroit to take the game.<\/p>\n
Minnesota Wild: xGF 2.32 > xGA 1.78<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets: xGF 2.49 > xGA 1.83<\/p>\n
Los \u00c1ngeles Kings: xGF 2.39 > xGA 2.09<\/p>\n
Washington Capitals: xGF 1.12 < xGA 1.42<\/p>\n
Colorado Avalanche: xGF 1.93 < xGA 2.33<\/p>\n
Colorado Avalanche: xGF 2.52 > xGA 1.79<\/p>\n
Utah Mammoth: xGF 1.65 > xGA 1.97<\/p>\n
So, not only should the Red Wings have won 4 out of the 7 games, but look at the xGoals Against numbers. Without Simon Edvinsson and even playing back to back against Colorado, the other team was never supposed to score more than three goals at even strength. Even a wounded defense core (assuming it\u2019s not Moritz Seider injured) is good enough to tread water. But with this forward core\u2019s level of creation and finishing being so poor, the ad clearly needs to come elsewhere.<\/p>\n
What Detroit Really Needs: <\/p>\n
If it wasn\u2019t clear, I alluded to Detroit needing offence pretty badly. Their offensive totals just aren\u2019t good enough on a per-game basis, no matter how hot they get at times. They also need physicality. Detroit is 29th in the league in hits per game. While they do have a pretty clear internal answer to that, I wouldn\u2019t be opposed to an external one as well.<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s look at those two and see who Detroit can snag that covers one or both. <\/p>\n
Physical Presences: <\/p>\n
D: Luke Schenn, 132 hits<\/p>\n
F: Brayden Schenn, 128 hits<\/p>\n
D: Simon Benoit, 128 hits<\/p>\n
D: Mario Ferraro, 94 hits<\/p>\n
Admittedly, none of these guys really inspires me. I know a lot of people would want me to filter by hits per\/60, but again, I stand on Detroit wanting to add a legit piece. I don\u2019t think Detroit wants to add a fourth liner or a bottom-pair guy who has extremely limited upside but good per-60 numbers. Of this list, I really do like Benoit. I think he would have been a really solid player across from Sandin-Pellikka. I could see this coaching staff unlocking him into being a decent number four who has some real bite.<\/p>\n
Scoring Presences: <\/p>\n
F: Robert Thomas, 33 points<\/p>\n
F: Elias Pettersson, 34 points<\/p>\n
F: Ryan O\u2019Rielly, 56 points<\/p>\n
F: Conor Garland, 25 points<\/p>\n
I\u2019m going to refuse to keep pushing my Robert Thomas agenda for at least a second. I do like the idea of Elias Pettersson if a more legit option isn\u2019t available. O\u2019Rielly is cool to me because I think that, despite being on the crest of his career, he\u2019d be a really solid option for this team and a great mentor for guys like Danielson and Kasper. Garland plays with a lot of heart and grit, and he has some decent middle-six upside. Garland is also the exact Yzerman type.<\/p>\n
Both: <\/p>\n
F: Vincent Trocheck, 36 points & 130 hits<\/p>\n
Of the truly solid options that cover both, Trocheck stands out. He is on the smaller side in terms of frame, which I don\u2019t love, but he plays above that. I really liked him in Carolina as a top-six centre, but at this point in his career, I don\u2019t know that he\u2019s best suited for that role. Not to mention, he\u2019s going to get a decent haul in return, and I don\u2019t see Yzerman budging up to deal with that.<\/p>\n
The Verdict: <\/p>\n
Truth be told, I wouldn\u2019t mind a solid defensive add to the backend. I\u2019m not going to complain about the team getting better. However, if they are to spend assets, I want them to fill one of the holes that they have on the team. <\/p>\n
An element I largely looked over in this is that Detroit has a really physical option sitting down in Grand Rapids with Michael Brandsegg-Nyg\u00e5rd. <\/p>\n
Where I land largely with this is that Detroit needs help upfront before they need help on the back end because, truthfully, as long as Seider is back there, they\u2019re going to be able to tread water.<\/p>\n
More to Read: <\/p>\n
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