Detroits defense in 2012-2013

[Johnstarks318]

Ok ok so no Suter... he is gone in Wild country with his buddy Zach. Ok ok Lidstrom, easily one of the best defenseman in the history of the game is gone... so now what happens?

How do you see the Wings defense situation? I leave you with a couple of questions:

1. Who will benefit most from the gaping hole Lidstrom leaves with the club and by that I mean whos icetime will significantly increase?

2. Will Smith make the team? If so, what will be his role?

3. Is Ian White a dark horse candidate here? How was his play last year?

[Pengwin7]

The Detroit D will look pretty bad next year, IMO.
This will hurt across the board.

I'd expect Jimmy Howard's numbers to take a hit.
I'd expect all of the forwards numbers to take a hit.

My guesses on pairings:
D1: Brendan Smith (L) - Ian White (R)
D2: Jon Ericsson (L) - Nick Kronwall (L)
D3: Jakub Kindl (L) - xxxxxx (R)

PP1D: White-Kronwall (Kronwall to take Lidstrom's spot on right point)
PP2D: xxxxx-Kronwall
ESD: White-Smith

I'd expect Smith to be forced to make the jump. I think they'll let Smith play with Ian White because White is the only R-handed D on their team right now and that's the best way to help a young defenseman transition to the NHL.

I'm not sure who is left out on D for Detroit to sign, but they need a veteran R-handed D very, very, very badly.


Predictions:
42pts Kronwall, N (lots of bombed shots on net from the point of the PP)
38pts White, I (token assists on the PP)
28-30pts Brendan Smith

[Nifty Mittens]

What about Quincey? any chance he gets 30 pts? his best season was 38 pts in 72 games.

[Zorro]

Quincey is a RFA, but they almost have to resign him now.. With Suter, Carle, and Garrison all gone, the pickings are slim now..

Smith will be playing in the NHL this year.. The Wings are forced to put him out there, but he will be ready..

[Bass56]

I think Smith will be more than ready. I see him taking up 20 mins a game with PP time.

He has the skill to pull it off (think SUbban in Mtl a few years back). When in need, someone always answers the call in some way or another.

[Rrabbit]

Smith has already played 63 AHL games and 14 NHL games. He was excellent in last year's training camp and was a very hard cut to make. Detroit has already taken it slow with him.

[JHM]

With Quincey being RFA, one certainly has to wonder about him returning and being part of the top 6. Fair enough to wonder that he'll be a 30 pointer.

Liddy will be replaced (attempted) by committee. Kronwall is clearly their go-to-guy in all situations. White has quietly and seamlessly become a fine part of their overall machine and should threaten for career numbers. There's still room for Smith. It's possible for the first time in a very long time, that the Wings must more carefully consider who is chewing up minutes in which zone. A guy like Kronwall could end up, not exploring his top points, because they require him in the defensive zone (and he still gets his full TOI). Less well rounded defensive D-men get extra prominence in the offensive end (Smith... Quincey...). Their offense competes with Kronwall...

I have the foolish belief that this is what happened to Ohlund in Vancouver for many years. Salo and Sopel were not strong defensively, early in their careers. It made me smile to watch Sopel extending his career as a shut down D-man. He finally got the other half of the ice figured out!

I would guess:
Kronwall (mid-40's)
White 38-43
Smith 30-35
Quincey (returning) 25-30

White could surprise and step higher, benefiting from holding his stick right!

[Dakkster]

One has to wonder about Quincey returning because he is a restricted free agent? Huh? At this point, after Detroit missed out on Suter, Carle and Garrison, it's the most obviously foregone conclusion ever that they will re-sign him. Even if they did get one or two of those guys, they would re-sign him because they gave up a first rounder for him.

[JHM]

Sentium - awesome point (the 1st rounder). Detroit doesn't waste things!

[capretto2002]

I picked up Kindl at the end of a non-competitive season, hoping that there might be some more minutes for him in the future. I know he at least had some pretty nice upside, has that been lost? Does he become more fantasy relevant this year? if not when if ever?

[dmvincent]

Right now, their D would look like this.

Kronwall-White
Smith-Ericsson
Quincey-Kindl