For the last 14 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

This year, due to Dobber’s battle with cancer, he recruited Cam Robinson (of Frozen Pool Forensics fame) to pinch hit. The 15th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey.

Enjoy!

Gone – Tomas Nosek, Mitch Callahan, Edward Pasquale

Incoming – Trevor Daley, Luke Witkowski, Tom McCollum, Libor Sulak, Matej Machovsky, Turner Elson

Impact of changes – The addition of Daley adds a veteran element to a defense core that needs a lot of work. He won’t be a savior by any means, but can still reasonably move the puck around in a second or third pair role. Machovsky comes over from the Czech Republic after several very successful seasons in their top league, he’ll likely become the team’s third net minder and step up in a back-up role if injuries arise to either Mrazek or Howard. Detroit was a bottom-feeder in 2016-17 and improved very little this offseason.

Ready for full-time – Anthony Mantha has followed the prototypical Red Wings’ developmental model. Drafted 20^th overall in 2013, Mantha went on to destroy the QMJHL for another season and then two full AHL campaigns before heading into camp last fall. He didn’t earn a job outright so he was back in Grand Rapids to start 2016-17 but his tenure there didn’t last. Upon recall, the 6’5 scoring winger went off for a near-point-per game stretch during the holiday months before slowing to finish the year. He finished fourth on the team in points-per-game with a 0.60 mark and a very respectable 2.26 points per 60 minutes which came in 92^nd league wide – a near-first-line rate. Mantha projects as the highest impact piece within the Detroit organization, and he should have a top line wing spot with his name on it this fall. Read more on Mantha here.

This year’s AHL Playoff MVP, Tyler Bertuzzi looks fully marinated. The 22-year-old posted 56 points in 67 combined regular season and playoff contests, including nine goals and 19 points in 19 playoff games on route to the Calder Cup victory. Todd’s nephew has also shown a strong grade of sandpaper to his game as his 133 penalty minutes in 2015-16 attest to. Look for the young forward to engage in plenty of physicality during camp to display his versatility to earn a job. He does have one more season before he becomes waiver eligible, so the Wings could shuffle him back and forth so if he doesn’t impress or if he’s beaten out by the newly signed Luke Witkowski. Read more on Bertuzzi here.  

Nick Jensen is another product of Detroit’s passion for over cooking their prospects. Selected in the fifth round back in 2009, Jensen spent three years in the NCAA before now completing three more campaigns in the AHL. He managed to push his way onto the big club for 49 games last season, seeing just under 18 minutes a night and recording four goals and 13 points. He projects to start the year on the team’s third pair after signing a two-year extension back in February. Read more on Jensen here.

Fantasy Outlook – Detroit has built up a great deal of good will over the years. That’s what’ll happen when you make the playoffs for 25 straight seasons, reach the finals six times and come away with four championships. But things are trending in the wrong direction. Captain Henrik Zetterberg remains the beating heart of the franchise and likely the only true fantasy option, but at age 37, father time will be catching up swiftly. Bounce back seasons from Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist would go a long way, but expecting much more than 50 points is likely setting up for a disappointment. Mantha is the player you want for dynasty settings but he needs to be insulated with further skill. The lack of offense created from the back end, coupled with a dearth of dynamic producers up front and a split time situation in net means you shouldn’t rely on too many titillating producers from this team.

Fantasy Grade: C- (Last year: C+)

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