Misryoum breaks down Red Wings’ 2026-27 roster tiers: who looks locked in, who’s on the bubble, and who may be moved on.
The Detroit Red Wings’ summer plans are starting to take shape, and Misryoum’s latest roster-tier look makes one thing clear: 2026-27 will reward players who fit the rebuild timeline, and test everyone else.
In a year where the organization is openly signaling that it wants a noticeable shift. Misryoum focuses on the group most likely to remain part of the core.. At the top of that tier is Moritz Seider. whose all-around impact has made him Detroit’s most dependable foundation on defense.. Lucas Raymond. even with a season that included playing through issues. still finished with strong production and carries the kind of upside that often defines a team’s next leap.. Simon Edvinsson is also positioned as a key piece, returning from knee trouble while maintaining major responsibilities.
Insight: This “keep the core” tier matters because it tells fans whether Detroit is building through stability or chasing short-term fixes. When the foundations stay, the rebuild becomes a plan instead of a gamble.
Beyond the young defense spine. Misryoum’s stay group includes Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat. both of whom represent different but equally urgent needs for a club trying to end its playoff wait.. Larkin’s scoring output remained strong, yet the five-on-five picture raises questions that will likely drive summer priorities.. DeBrincat. meanwhile. is framed as too central to Detroit’s attack to ignore during contract season. with his future tied closely to the team’s willingness to commit.
Meanwhile. the roster picture becomes more fluid for players whose roles may shrink or who could be tested by shifting lineup needs.. Marco Kasper is the biggest “bounce-back” candidate in Misryoum’s middle tier, with his sophomore production lower than expected.. Even so. the storyline remains compelling: coaching confidence. the possibility of finding the right spot. and the idea that his on-ice results could improve after a difficult stretch.
J.T.. Compher lands in a similar but different zone.. Misryoum notes his utility and the way he performed when center depth was strained. but also highlights an overall season that didn’t match prior standards.. That combination makes him a potential trade option. especially given that Detroit’s center depth chart may only become more crowded.
Insight: The bubble tier is where rebuild strategies show the most tension. Players aren’t simply judged on one season; they’re evaluated against what the team needs next, and whether their role can grow or will be squeezed.
Other players in Misryoum’s “have term. but candidates to move” space include Michael Rasmussen. Mason Appleton. and—depending on choices around age and fit—players like J.T.. Compher and J.T.-adjacent depth questions across the bottom lines.. Rasmussen’s downtrend in several areas puts him on notice. while Appleton’s drop-off in territorial numbers adds uncertainty about whether Detroit can reliably get the best out of him.. Even veterans and depth defenders face scrutiny, particularly when roster turnover becomes a practical necessity.
Misryoum also points to the “pending decisions” that could reshape the forward group and goaltending plan.. James van Riemsdyk is treated as a possible return candidate. but his age and profile make it plausible that Detroit could look elsewhere.. David Perron’s future is similarly tied to whether he wants to continue at that stage of his career.. For Cam Talbot. the idea is less about ability and more about timing and capacity. especially with the organization preparing for what’s next between the pipes.
At the far end of the spectrum, Misryoum’s most clear-cut “likely gone” call lands on Travis Hamonic, whose availability after a certain point in the season, combined with the defensive group already under development, points to an ending rather than a continuation.
Insight: These tier rankings matter to fans not just because they predict roster changes. but because they reveal the direction of Detroit’s rebuild.. The offseason isn’t only about adding talent—it’s about choosing who the team can build around. who can be traded for leverage. and who doesn’t fit the timeline anymore.