Detroit finished ninth offensively (3.35 goals per game) but 24th defensively (3.33 goals against per game) last season.
But they added forwards Vladimir Tarasenko (signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract July 3) and Tyler Motte (signed a one-year, $800,000 contract July 2), defenseman Erik Gustafsson (signed a two-year, $4 million contract July 1) and goalie Cam Talbot (signed a two-year, $5 million contract July 1).
Tarasenko talked about the playoffs after signing.
“I’m not a person who just come and hang out, enjoy my time and don’t try to win,” said the 32-year-old, who won the Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and Florida Panthers last season. “I really like winning, and [I] just won the second Cup. I will do everything I can to help the organization to take a next step, help the guys, share my experience and just do my best to be able to make the playoffs.
“[If] you make the playoffs, you never know what’s going to happen. That’s the reason I come, because I like the way the team played (last season) and I believe this team can make the playoffs and do some special things.”
Talbot talked about the playoffs, too.
“I’m at the stage of my career where I’m not ready to just mail it in yet,” the 37-year-old said. “I don’t want to just give up starts. I still want to compete for starts, I still want to compete for the playoffs and I still want to win a Stanley Cup. I’ve never done that yet. So, all these things kind of play into that decision, the fact that they were that close last year and they really want to push for that again and they made that clear.”
Yzerman stressed that he will stick to the plan, trying to build a core that can compete for the playoffs consistently. But the Red Wings have potential this season and a sense of urgency.
“I don’t think it’s any different than I felt last year,” Yzerman said. “I think we’re in with that group of teams that has a chance to compete for the playoffs if we stay healthy, if our goaltending is good and you get some maybe unexpected [performances]. We might get in, or you might just miss by a point on the last game of the season. That’s the fine line of it all.”
