3 Players Facing Their Final Season with the Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings have a strong chance to maintain their core group of players for a long time, but this will also require some tough decisions after the 2024-25 season.
The current moves by the Detroit Red Wings are commendable. Once they secure contracts for Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond—as is expected—they will boast a solid core that includes Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Andrew Copp, JT Compher, Joseph Valeno, and Simon Edvinsson, with more talent emerging.
However, to keep this core together for the long term, the Red Wings will need to make some sacrifices. Below, we discuss three players who might not be part of the team’s future plans. Two of these players could be let go to free up valuable cap space for the 2025-26 season and beyond, while another might be traded as early as the 2025 trade deadline.
Jonatan Berggren
As of this writing, Jonatan Berggren has yet to sign for the 2024-25 season, but it’s likely the Red Wings will reach an agreement before training camp begins. However, the question remains: is Berggren making a significant enough impact to warrant keeping him long-term?
Even if Berggren signs a multi-year deal, it could make him more attractive as a trade asset, allowing the Red Wings to take the next step forward. It wouldn’t be surprising if Steve Yzerman trades him around the 2025 deadline to a non-contending team in exchange for a key piece that could help Detroit reach the playoffs.
Justin Holl
Justin Holl is another player who might not finish the season with the Red Wings. In fact, he could even be traded before the regular season begins if Yzerman finds a suitable deal.
Holl could provide value as a bottom-pair defenseman for another team, not just this season, but potentially for a few more years. However, unless he exceeds expectations in training camp and during the early months of the season, it’s unlikely he’ll stay in Detroit.
Ville Husso
Ville Husso’s situation is a bit of a paradox. It’s both surprising and not surprising that he’s still with the Red Wings. Husso has the potential to be a solid 1A goalie for a team not expected to go far in 2024-25, but his poor performance so far hasn’t made him appealing to any other fanbase.
For now, Husso remains in Detroit, but with Cam Talbot expected to be the primary goalie and Alex Lyon as a strong backup, Husso might end up as organizational depth in 2024-25, with Yzerman possibly absorbing a buried cap hit.
Additionally, with Jack Campbell and Sebastian Cossa in the mix, Husso’s position is even more uncertain. At least in the worst-case scenario, his contract expires after the 2025 offseason.
