Detroit Red Wings: 3 impact forwards to pursue signing in free agency

Another change of scenery for Alexander Wennberg is good.

The Detroit Red Wings are big fans of centerman or at least forwards who are flexible and able to perform inside the face-off dot. Alexander Wennberg is a player who can do that. The 6-foot-2,  197 pound forward was good with the Columbus Blue Jackets when he came up but lost some of the “scoring touch.”

A move to the Florida Panthers seemed to change things around, but it seems like there’s more in the tank for Wennberg. He showed that he could be a dynamic centerman/forward for the Blue Jackets in 2016-17 where he scored 13 goals and added 46 assists for 59 points while going on some hot streaks.

With the Panthers in 2020-21, Wennberg scored 17 goals and added 12 assists for 29 total points over 56 games played. He’s got 20 goals in his gas tank and it seems like targeting the guy who thrived in a change of scenery is worth it.

An impact forward who can make things happen offensively and create offense should be someone the Red Wings consider when they are weighing out free agent options. Another change of scenery on a move to Hockeytown is well worth it.

He’s reliable in the defensive zone too, he’s not a forward who’s all offense and can be responsible when in the defensive zone and transitioning into the breakout. With the Blue Jackets, Wennberg was on a $4.9 million AAV contract.

That dropped to a one-year, $2.25 million contract after things took a dive for Wennberg in terms of offensive production. It seems like splitting the difference here is the way to go. Throwing Wennberg a one-year, $3-3.5 million contract with the hope to extend him if he can dig deeper and show that offense he’s shown he is capable of.

Wennberg would be a valuable asset to the Red Wings offense and is another player the team should consider signing in free agency.