"Ask Art": Red Wings Mailbag

DETROIT -- After an offseason filled with a flurry of activity from the Detroit Red Wings' top brass and an encouraging early start to the season, Detroit's rabid fanbase is eagerly anticipating the red and white to be significantly improved this season.

The fans' optimism has also generated many questions, so our very own Art Regner is the sage (his term) with the answers! So, let's get the puck rolling with the season debut of "Ask Art," the Red Wings' official mailbag.

Who do you think is the most underrated player on the current Red Wings roster? Jack, Harrison Township

There are an abundance of players that fall under the underrated category on Detroit's roster, but my choice is Oskar Sundqvist. When the Wings acquired the 6-foot-3, 208-pound forward from the St. Louis Blues as part of the Nick Leddy deal last April, my connections in St. Louis raved about what a positive influence Sundqvist was in the dressing room.

Sundqvist is a solid 200-foot player and an exceptional penalty killer. He is not afraid to mix it up and be physical. Plus, Sundqvist is now finally healthy, which should allow his offensive game to round out nicely for the Red Wings.

What are Steve Yzerman's strongest moves so far in his three-plus years in Detroit? Lily, Lincoln Park

Since becoming Detroit's hockey architect on April 19, 2019, Steve Yzerman has been meticulous in his reconstruction of the Red Wings. Whether he shows it publicly or not, Steve's quest is to get Detroit back to hockey's Promised Land through his passion, determination and intelligence. So far, it's not a stretch to conclude Hockeytown faithful must like the early returns of the Yzerman regime.
There are so many positive moves Yzerman has made during his tenure, but I'll address what I perceive as his three most significant moves, which set the Red Wings up perfectly to aggressively sign free agents and trade for needs this past offseason.
Without question, drafting defenseman Moritz Seider is Yzerman's top move. Seider, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2021-22, is a gifted player who will anchor Detroit's blue line for the next dozen or so years. It's hard to believe Seider is only 21 years old. His composure and overall game is astounding for his age. When he makes a mistake, it's one and done - meaning he cleans it up and it will most likely not happen again.

With Seider on the cusp of being an elite-level player, Yzerman's second-best move was drafting forward Lucas Raymond. The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Swede may not be the biggest player on the ice, but his overall skill and intelligence stand tall. Raymond is a terrific passer and has the uncanny ability to create his own shot, one that is blistering and accurate. Drafting Seider and Raymond has given Detroit two gigantic pieces of their aspiring Stanley Cup puzzle.
Yzerman's third-best move was acquiring Robby Fabbri from the Blues via trade in exchange for Jacob de la Rose on Nov. 8, 2019. Detroit has experienced offensive woes over the last few seasons, but Fabbri was an immediate upgrade offensively, cementing Yzerman's reputation as an astute dealmaker. Though Fabbri can't seem to catch a break on the injury front, he's notched 41 goals and 79 points in 138 games with the Red Wings. Not a bad return for a player who is no longer in the NHL.

Why did Simon Edvinsson get sent to Grand Rapids, I thought he was supposed to make the team this year? Rick, Facebook

You are not alone in your assumption. It was a no-brainer for Detroit to select the 6-foot-6, 209-pound defenseman when he fell to the club at sixth overall in the in 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Many pundits thought Edvinsson's game translated just as well as fellow blueliner and former Michigan Wolverine Owen Power, who was taken first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021.
Edvinsson, 19, showed signs in training camp he is going to be - at the very least - a high end NHL player, yet the transition to the North American-sized ice sheet may serve him best to have an apprenticeship with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. The AHL is the second-best league in the world, and Edvinsson will log plenty of minutes and play in every situation for Grand Rapids.

With the Red Wings already having eight experienced NHL defenseman on their current roster, playing time for Edvinsson would have been limited in such a crowded field. However, this is not an over-ripe situation. Once Edvinsson cuts in teeth at the AHL level and proves he is NHL-ready, I believe he will be in Detroit.
Also, several factors could impact when Edvinsson will get the call up. Injuries, his play with the Griffins and how this season unfolds will be variables in the decision-making process. I still have the feeling we will see Edvinsson sooner rather than later with the Red Wings.

With all the new acquisitions this offseason, who will have the biggest impact? Tiny, Twitter

It's always difficult to predict how a player and a team's season will play out, but there are two players who I think will have the biggest impact. First, for obvious reasons, Ville Husso. He's a goaltender and his play can win and lose a game, regardless of how his teammates are playing in front of him.
The second player who will have the biggest impact is David Perron, who is a proven points machine on the power play. In 976 NHL games, Perron has 72 goals and 131 assists on the power play alone. The Red Wings have struggled to generate consistency on the power play in recent years, but Perron's prowess and his sensible approach (leadership) to the game should pay dividends.

Are the Wings a playoff contender with the current roster? Gordy, Facebook

When I was pressed to give a points prediction for this season by several of my colleagues, I came up with 86 points for this year's Red Wings. It may be a little short of reaching the playoffs, but the gap between the haves and have nots has tightened up in the vastly improved Eastern Conference. So, you never know? The Red Wings have more depth and a deeper talent pool on their roster.
If the Hockey Gods occasionally smile on them - getting injured players back quickly and a few prospects develop rapidly - we should see the Wings play an entertaining brand of hockey and meaningful games all season long.
Thank you to everybody who sent in questions for this edition of "Ask Art." The response was tremendous. If your question wasn't used in this edition, it could be used in future Mailbags. So, send any and all thoughts my way!
If you would like to send me a question, email me at [email protected]. You can also send me questions via Facebook and

. Again, thanks for your questions. See you at the rink!