MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250 rankings
NOTES: These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
Red Wings 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Moritz Seider, D: He's tied with Cale Makar (50 for Colorado Avalanche in 2019-20) for the second-most points by a rookie defenseman over the past three seasons behind Quinn Hughes (53 for Vancouver Canucks in 2019-20) and has the second-most shots on goal (187) by a rookie at the position the past six seasons since Zach Werenski (188 for Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016-17). Seider led the Red Wings in assists (43) and power-play points (21; led rookies) last season with strong hits coverage (151; first in his draft class). He is among the top 10 fantasy defensemen, top 50 overall players and top 10 in keeper and dynasty leagues.
NHL.com point projection for Seider: 60
Dylan Larkin, C:He had the best points-per-game average of his NHL career last season (0.97) and led Detroit in goals (31) and points (69 in 71 games). Larkin should be considered a top 100 overall fantasy player and could have an even higher ceiling in his contract year (potential 2023 unrestricted free agent) after the Red Wings signed David Perron, Andrew Copp and Dominik Kubalik, and traded for goalie Ville Husso.
NHL.com point projection for Larkin: 80
Lucas Raymond, RW:He ranked among the top five NHL rookies in goals (23; tied for second), assists (34; fourth), points (57; third), power-play points (18; second) and shots on goal (184; fourth) playing mostly the top line with Larkin and wing Tyler Bertuzzi (second on Red Wings with 30 goals, 62 points). Raymond should remain a top 100 overall player in his second season, especially after Detroit's moves to expedite its rebuild.
NHL.com point projection for Raymond: 65
Jakub Vrana, LW:He missed most of last season because of injury but has 30 points (21 goals, nine assists) in 37 games in two seasons for Detroit. Vrana was fifth in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (1.52; minimum 25 games) and is a breakout candidate with a chance to earn more time on the top line with Larkin under new coach Derek Lalonde.
NHL.com point projection for Vrana: 70
Ville Husso, G:He was acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the 2022 NHL Draft on July 8 and signed to a three-year contract, giving the Red Wings an improved goalie tandem with Alex Nedeljkovic. Husso, who was tied for sixth in the NHL in even-strength save percentage (.919; minimum 40 games) last season, loses some fantasy appeal considering Detroit has young defensemen led by Seider, Filip Hronek and rookie Simon Edvinsson. But he should still be considered a fringe top 20 fantasy goalie and top 150 overall player.
NHL.com win projection for Husso: 23
