Major development in the Detroit Red Wings acquiring opposing teams first-line center
Photo credit: HockeyNews
The Red Wings loss of a player in free agency highlights their lack of penalty killing and according to new reports Steve Yzerman could opt to re-sign him in Detroit.
Forward Pius Suter parted ways with the Detroit Red Wings in free agency, opting to sign a contract with the Vancouver Canucks which has now sparked a new season-high career point total with 42-points, and there's still eight games remaining.
The Swiss-born is a standout on the penalty kill unit and is one of the main reasons as to why the Canucks have great success on the defensive end.
Suter is currently the first line center in Vancouver due to the recent injury of Elias Pettersson, and he is handling the responsibility of 20 plus minutes of ice time per night quite well.
Why the Red Wings should bring back Pius Suter
The Red Wings could replace JT Compher on center and provide a third-line role for Suter, relieving pressure of being a top line center while providing a shutdown presence alongside the youth in Detroit.
Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now reported Steve Yzerman may look to bring the former Red Wing back, in a move that will greatly impact their current struggle on the penalty kill.
"He has been a factor in transforming the team's penalty kill from one of the league's worst to No. 3 this season at 83%. The Red Wings, with the NHL's worst PK (69%), need someone like Suter. And, Suter is an unrestricted free agent this summer. GM Steve Yzerman did want to re-sign him two years ago, but wanted to give him a one-year deal. Suter wanted a multi-year deal, and took two years at $1.6 million per season to join Vancouver."
Wrote AllenWith a boat load of Red Wings set to have their contracts expire this summer, new faces are expected to be brought into the organization, and potentially some familiar ones too.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3 | 128 ANSWERS Major development in the Detroit Red Wings acquiring opposing teams first-line center Do you think Steve Yzerman should acquire this first-line center of the Vancouver Canucks? | ||
| Yes | 79 | 61.7 % |
| No | 49 | 38.3 % |
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