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The Detroit Red Wings' worst forward of the 2024-25 season wasn't Vladimir Tarasenko
Photo credit: Octopus Thrower
While sizable blame could be placed on forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who underperformed this year, J.T. Compher, a forward they're paying $5.1 million AAV, deserves to share in it with his disappointing season as a Detroit Red Wing.
J.T. Compher has finished his second year as a Detroit Red Wing. He signed with the team during the 2023 postseason and would earn $5.1 million AAV, a great payday only a year removed from his Stanley Cup win with the Colorado Avalanche.
Compher, a University of Michigan alumnus, played four years as a Wolverine. While it's nice to bring home players like Compher, sometimes it's inadvisable to sign every former Wolverine or Michigan-born player.
The reason? Since Compher has arrived in Detroit there was a lot of hype surrounding him. In 2023-2024 he posted 48 points and (19 goals, 29 assists) in 77 games. The team can rejoice, as they've found another depth goal-scorer in the lineup. But this year, his production has declined as he'd post 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 76 games.
Compher's struggles on the third line should put his time as a Red Wing in perspective. His value has plummeted, while he continues to collect a nice contract given to him by GM Steve Yzerman.
If the team is to move on from Vladimir Tarasenko, should they consider doing the same with Compher?
His contract is hefty, at $5.1 million and lasts until 2027-2028 and has a modified no-trade clause attached to it.
Will he be stuck with the team for a while? Perhaps not, if GM Steve Yzerman can work with Compher to find a trade destination suitable to him.
However, this could be a year where he was slumping, and his 52-point season iin 2022-2023 might've been just an anomaly, considering Compher's been a depth forward on the Avalanche's roster, scoring 30+ points on a normal year.
It may not be the fact that he's ready to take the next step forward and be a key piece in the Red Wings' rebuild (it appears that's not the case). He could just be an option for the Wings' bottom-six or middle-six and play meaningful two-way hockey.
His 48-point season may have to be taken with a grain of salt until he can replicate the production again.
If the team isn't able to move on from him, maybe he could find himself in a leadership and development role for the forwards he will center soon?
We're in the find out stage of hometown bias in signing NHL players.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 26 | 145 ANSWERS The Detroit Red Wings' worst forward of the 2024-25 season wasn't Vladimir Tarasenko Do you think forward J.T. Compher of the Detroit Red Wings can be traded with an $5.1 million cap hit and modified NTC? | ||
| Yes | 72 | 49.7 % |
| No | 73 | 50.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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