Red Wings GM says team made progress but must improve in one area

Despite the Detroit Red Wings late-season slump and subsequent missing the playoffs, for a franchise record eighth consecutive season, general manager Steve Yzerman says the team made positive strides.

"Overall, I'm encouraged with the progress of the organization," Yzerman said on Friday via Ansar Khan of MLive.com. "I'm kind of disappointed at the end of the season because it was, particularly in the last week, incredible exciting."

Detroit's 91 points was an 11-point improvement over the 2022-23 season.

Yzerman also said that he does not foresee big changes in the Red Wings roster for the 2024-25 season. He indicated that two players from their affiliate the AHL Grand Griffins will be in Detroit next season: Skilled winger Jonatan Berggren, who has spent a significant amount of time with the Red Wings the last two seasons and defenseman Albert Johansson.

Simon Edvinsson, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft who spent most of 2023-24 in Grand Rapids and was outstanding after being called up late in the season, will also remain with Detroit next season.

Yzerman said he would like to re-sign unrestricted free agents Patrick Kane, forward David Perron and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere.  But there's a good chance that Kane will sign elsewhere.

But Yzerman's biggest contract priorities during the off-season will be signing young stars defenseman Moritz Seider and winger Lucas Raymond. Both just completed their third NHL season.

Seider has been the team's best defenseman since pulling on a Red Wings jersey and was second in the league in blocked shots this season. Raymond made huge strides in 2023-24, particularly late in the season when he scored several big goals to keep Detroit in the playoff race. Raymond lead the team in scoring with 72 points (31 goals and 41 assists). 

Both are expected to sign lucrative long-term deals.

Goaltending will also be an issue. 

The Red Wings will have Ville Husso and Alex Lyon under contract. 

Husso was injured most of the season and mediocre when he played, while Lyon, who was signed to be the third goaltender, wound up being the regular netminder for most of the season. He had a good stretch but his weaknesses were revealed the more he played.

James Reimer is a free agent and likely won't return.

It appears that coach Derek Lalonde will return but the team must be better defensively after allowing 274 goals, tied for 25th in the NHL.

"Ultimately, we got to become a better defensive hockey team. It's the fundamentals of defending," Yzerman said. "I'm counting on our coaching staff to work with our players and our players be determined to do that "