Red Wings have a hard-nosed blue-line option on the open market of a longtime veteran who's making a comeback

While the viability of some veterans has passed, others remain poised to impact play even at the base level of some NHL teams.

One player who could be an intriguing option for the Red Wings' blue line is Jarred Tinordi.

He could offer the kind of snarl missing on the blue line at the moment, which is populated with struggling defenders like Jacob Bernard-Docker.

The defenseman signed a one-year two-way contract with the Calgary Flames in 2024. He became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2025. He played 30 games for the AHL Wranglers in 2023-24 and scored 4 points (1-3).

He's not known for his offense but for his hard-nosed play and his ability to protect his teammates. Tinordi could be a viable option to replace either Travis Hamonic or Jacob Bernard-Dock on the bottom pair.

During the 2024-25 season, when he signed with the Calgary Flames, he made $800K average annual value (AAV).

His last NHL game played was with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23, where he added 94 blocks and 171 hits to his bucket. A total defensive monster for the team, who is just now taking off in the Central Division.

The veteran defenseman could slot in as an enforcer in the NHL, and the Red Wings are desperately missing protection on the ice for Lucas Raymond, Patrick Kane, and even younger players.

The Red Wings wouldn't have to spend much to complete the move for Jarred Tinordi; a league minimum deal of $775K could get it done and give them a chance to send Jacob Bernard-Docker to the AHL.