Team: 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 31, 2023

Published: Jul. 31, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The following players, I believe, are the "nucleus" of players that Yzerman views as the team's core.

TBD = To be determined, could be a player already in the organization or acquired down the road.

The conventional approach to team formation is evolving. A prevailing assumption is that the 1st line gets the most playing time, followed by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines, with the last two predominantly serving physical roles, often at the expense of skill, especially on the 4th line. However, this model is outdated. The future, according to Yzerman, consists of four consistent lines, all equally laden with elite talent, reflecting a shift in team-building strategy.

In actualizing his vision, Yzerman has diverged strategically from traditional methods, meticulously selecting players for all four lines, focusing not just on their physical attributes but also their unique skills and capabilities. The drafting of players like Kasper and Danielsson perfectly encapsulates this strategy. The notion of using a top-10 pick on a "future 3rd-line center" has often been criticized, as the position has been historically associated with mediocrity and underachievement. However, Yzerman's vision redefines these roles. Imagine having three forward lines each boasting an elite two-way center, paired with size or skill according to the game's dynamics. Such a configuration presents a formidable challenge for any opposing team to match up against.