The Detroit Red Wings Are Missing a Key Ingredient in Their Rebuild: A Reliable Depth Scorer
As the Detroit Red Wings continue working through their ongoing rebuild, one glaring issue remains largely unaddressed—depth scoring. Despite occasional offensive bursts, particularly when benefiting from the man advantage, the team struggled to generate consistent production at even strength throughout the season. This offseason, addressing that deficiency is essential.
Although I stand by the belief that Detroit’s rebuild won’t fully turn the corner until the team acquires a true Tier I superstar—a franchise-defining player—there’s a more immediate and achievable need: bolstering the middle of the lineup. Simply put, Detroit lacked offensive support beyond their top contributors. This lack of secondary scoring was one of the biggest factors holding them back this past year.
To put it into perspective, here’s a snapshot of the team’s top five goal scorers:
Alex DeBrincat: 39 goals
Dylan Larkin: 30 goals
Lucas Raymond: 27 goals
Patrick Kane: 21 goals
Marco Kasper: 19 goals
After those five, the drop-off is sharp. The sixth-highest goal scorer, Jonatan Berggren, managed just 12 goals over the season. Behind him, three players tied with 11 goals, and Andrew Copp rounded out the group with 10 goals in 56 games. Even if Copp had played an additional 20 games and maintained his scoring pace, he would have finished with approximately 13 to 14 goals—not the kind of contribution you ideally want from a middle-six forward on a team with playoff aspirations.
While Copp’s overall impact and versatility shouldn’t be overlooked, Detroit clearly needs a forward who can reliably chip in 20 goals while playing around 13 to 15 minutes per night. This kind of player can serve as the bridge between the star-powered top line and the more defensively focused fourth line—a stabilizing force who can also tilt close games in your favor.
The Vladimir Tarasenko Gamble Didn’t Pay Off
Last season, the Red Wings took a shot with veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko, hoping he could be the answer to their secondary scoring woes. Unfortunately, that experiment didn’t pan out. Tarasenko managed only 11 goals, converting on a meager 8.3% of his shots. It was a disappointing return, and another swing-and-miss in free agency under general manager Steve Yzerman’s leadership.
The misfire with Tarasenko underscores the importance of Yzerman making the right call this offseason. Patience is wearing thin—not only from fans but possibly from within the locker room. Captain Dylan Larkin, now firmly in his prime, needs to see tangible progress from management if he’s going to stay optimistic about the team’s direction.
Can Internal Options Be the Solution?
While the team has promising young talent like Marco Kasper who’ve begun to carve out roles, it’s risky to assume that another prospect will suddenly emerge as a 20-goal contributor. Banking on youth alone to fill such a specific and crucial need would be a gamble—and not one the Red Wings can afford right now.
Why Adding a 20-Goal Scorer Could Be a Game-Changer
If Detroit can bring in a proven depth scorer—someone who can hit the 20-goal mark—it could significantly impact their fortunes. Let’s do the math: assuming Andrew Copp stays healthy and provides 14 to 15 goals, and another player is added who contributes 20, you’re looking at roughly 259 to 260 total goals (factoring in the continued production of the top five scorers). For context, the Red Wings scored just 235 goals this past season, ranking them 22nd in the NHL.
That additional 25 goals would likely catapult them to around 11th or 12th in total scoring—right in the middle of playoff contention. Even a modest increase, such as swapping out Tarasenko’s 11 goals for a new player’s 20 and getting a full season from Copp, could add 13–14 more goals. That could have swung the outcome of several tightly contested games and pushed Detroit closer to the playoff bubble.
Bottom Line: It’s Time for Action
The numbers paint a clear picture: one reliable 20-goal scorer can make a meaningful difference. Detroit doesn’t need another flashy name—they need a consistent performer who can round out their middle six. For Yzerman, it’s a crucial offseason. Finding the right player to fill that depth-scoring void isn’t just about improving the team’s stats—it’s about reestablishing forward momentum in a rebuild that’s shown signs of stalling.
If he can land that piece, it won’t just benefit the Red Wings next season—it could be the move that finally begins to shift this team out of rebuilding mode and into legitimate contention. The fans—and the franchise—are ready for it.
