Red Wings’ 2019-20 Report Cards

Following the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks, the team has officially passed the quarter mark of the NHL season. As expected, the team is sitting near the bottom of the standings with a 7-12-3 record.

While the Red Wings have experienced long stretches of dismal play, there have also been several bright spots through the first 21 games. In essence, they are unpredictable, and that can be expected from a squad that has a remarkably young leadership core.

While Blashill’s comments may come across as harsh, they are not wrong. Hirose needs to be productive offensively to stay in the lineup as he is not suited for a checking-line role.

Early returns suggest that the press box lit a fire under him, as he scored his first goal of the season in his return to the lineup against the Sharks. Hopefully, this gives Hirose some confidence to help his grade rise for the next batch of report cards.

Justin Abdelkader: D (16GP, 0G, 3A)

Before getting injured, Abdelkader was having himself an Abdelkader-esque season. He has provided limited offense, proficient physicality (29 hits), and a haunting realization that his $4.25 million contract does not end until after the 2022-23 season.

I hope that he sends Pavel Datsyuk a Christmas card every year because Datsyuk is the main reason he got his contract in the first place. That point aside, Abdelkader deserves a ton of praise for being a charitable pillar in the Michigan community every single year.

Christoffer Ehn: D- (14GP, 0G, 0A)

Ehn does not flat-out fail because he is not expected to provide any offense. His average ice time per game (11:53) is lower than any other Red Wings’ forward with more than five games played this season.

Ehn is expected to kill penalties and not make mistakes in the defensive zone. Now, he will ply his trade down with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League (AHL) after being assigned to the team on Nov. 16.

Frans Nielsen: F (18GP, 0G, 0A)

Oh Lord. Nielsen’s first year with the Red Wings back in the 2016-17 season was adequate. A quarter of the way through the 2019-20 season, we have reached rock bottom.

Not only has Nielsen been held pointless through 18 games, but he has been a detriment to the team in all areas. Thankfully, Nielsen has a small contra- OH MY GOD HE MAKES $5.25 MILLION FOR TWO MORE YEARS.

If letter grades went to Z, that’s what Nielsen would get.

Adam Erne: F (17GP, 0G, 0A)

When Erne was acquired by the Red Wings back in August, it was a well-received transaction. Yzerman had, once again, traded for a player that possessed upside, and sacrificed next to nothing in return.

Fast forward to now, and the minimal-risk gamble has not paid off. Erne looks invisible on most nights, and while he is playing in a bottom-six role, a zero-point performance is not acceptable.

Givani Smith: Incomplete (5GP, 0G, 0A)

Smith has given the Red Wings some added truculence during his time in the NHL, albeit in a fourth-line role. The team recalled Smith from the minors on Nov. 16, so he will likely get another opportunity to showcase himself.

He offers tepid defensive play and a physical element, but on most teams around the league, he would likely struggle to crack the lineup. On the Red Wings, he plays over 17 minutes a night.

To his credit, with defensive injuries mounting, Bowey has produced a point in four of his past five games.

Trevor Daley: F (11GP, 0G, 0A)

Like many Red Wings defensemen, Daley has missed a considerable amount of time with injuries this season. The 36-year-old has had a decorated 16-year career in the NHL, but his productivity has come to a halt.

He is a free agent at the culmination of the season, and it would not be a surprise to see him retire.

Alex Biega: Incomplete (8GP, 0G, 0A)

With a plague of injuries surrounding the team, the Red Wings acquired Biega as an extra body. The 31-year-old has looked like a competent third-pairing player, but nothing more.

Joe Hicketts: Incomplete (5GP, 0G, 2A)

Another year, another couple of stints with the Red Wings for Hicketts. The 23-year-old is a valuable insurance policy to have, but when the team is healthy, he keeps getting buried on the depth chart.

He has nine points in 11 games with the Griffins in the AHL and plays with a surprising edge considering his modest stature. He was noticeable in a positive way in the Red Wings’ most recent game against the Sharks.

Jonathan Ericsson: Incomplete (2GP, 0G, 0A)

The towering Ericsson played in the Red Wings’ past two games, but he has spent the majority of the season in the AHL. He is a valuable mentor to have with the Griffins as he can groom the team’s younger players.

Thankfully, his bloated $4.25-million contract comes off of the books at the end of the season.

Dylan McIlrath: Incomplete (6GP, 0G, 0A)

McIlrath’s best asset is his physicality. He has 16 hits in six games and adds some serious toughness to the lineup.

Goaltenders – Jonathan Bernier is Taking the Reigns

Jonathan Bernier: C (5-4-2, .892 SV%, 3.17 GAA)

After a dismal stretch of play to end October, Bernier has rebounded quite well. He is 3-0-1 in his past four starts and has seemingly wrestled away the starting job from Jimmy Howard.

The Red Wings have iced some shoddy defensive units this season, which has hurt both goalies’ numbers, but Bernier is starting to find a groove. Nevertheless, his awful streak of starts severely impacted his grade.

Jimmy Howard: F (2-8-1, .884 SV%, 3.86 GAA)

It has been a horrendous start to the year for Howard, and the Red Wings can not afford to have such pitiful goaltending. He has won just once since the first game of the season and has allowed four goals or more on six different occasions.

He made some pivotal saves in his most recent start against the Sharks, but he also allowed a pair of questionable goals.

When the Red Wings struggled over the past two seasons, Howard was rarely the reason why. Now, the 35-year-old looks lost in the net, which does not bode well for his free-agency endeavors after the campaign.

The Report Card Wrap Up

So, what grades do you think are too generous? Too harsh? Who do you expect to improve over the next quarter of the season?

If you have any thoughts on any of these questions, feel free to leave a comment below or reach out to me on Twitter @MondoHarrison.

The next batch of report cards will come out following the Red Wings’ 41st game of the season on Dec. 31.

Statistics courtesy of NHL.com, Evolving-Hockey, and Natural Stat Trick.