NHL 19: Detroit Red Wings Player Ratings, Roster & Top Prospects

(Image Source: EA Sports)

There are a few very talented young forwards currently in Detroit Red Wings jerseys, but for the most part, this is an aging team which needs to be rebuilt over the next few seasons or so. With talisman Henrik Zetterberg retiring before the start of the season – but NHL 19 mercifully leaving him in the team for the game – this team should begin selling off their valuable older players for picks and prospects as they lack much hope of seeing the playoffs for a few years.

Dylan Larkin, Center, 84 OVR

Age: 22Role: Playmaker CenterHeight: 185cmWeight: 90kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: 93 Acceleration, Speed. 90 Agility, Deking

Dylan Larkin looks to be the long-term central star of the historic franchise once the team has re-tooled to provide a strong team for him to lead. With 16 goals and 63 points, he led the Detroit Red Wings last season and had done so 28 games into this campaign, scoring ten goals and 24 points. 

Danny DeKeyer, Defenseman, 82 OVR

Age: 28Role: Defensive DefensemanHeight: 191cmWeight: 87kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: 88 Slap Shot Power, Strength, Balance

With the likes of Mike Green, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, and Trevor Daley all on the wrong side of 30, Danny DeKeyser presents the team’s most youthful top defenseman at 28 who they’ll be looking to lean on over the next four or five seasons. He’s one of the better defensive defensemen in the game, with the rating system greatly favoring two-way defensemen, and despite the Red Wings finishing with a -38 goal difference, he maintained a +2 rating having only scored 12 points. 

Jimmy Howard, Goaltender, 83 OVR

Age: 34Role: Hybrid GoaltenderHeight: 185cmWeight: 99kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: 88 Rebound Control, Breakaway, Angles, Glove Low

Having successfully bumped the once up-and-coming Petr Mrazek out of the team, veteran Jimmy Howard has established himself as Detroit’s number one goalie. His decent save percentage of .910 and goals against average of 2.85 may be eclipsed this season despite the lack of improvements in the lines in front of him. Through 20 starts, Howard reeled in a .920 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average. 

NHL 19 Detroit Red Wings Roster

From the Day 1, September 13 update, this is how the Detroit Red Wings’ first lines start. For what the starting lines lack in overall rating, they more than make up for with shooting skill and speed. It’s a rather user-friendly line, especially with the size and stick of Anthony Mantha coupled with the pace and playmaking ability of Dylan Larkin.

Tyler Bertuzzi (79) – Dylan Larkin (84) – Anthony Mantha (83)Jonathan Ericsson (79) – Mike Green (82)Jimmy Howard (83)

Filip Zadina, Right Wing, 76 OVR

Age: 18Role: Two-Way ForwardHeight: 183cmWeight: 85kgShoots: LeftPotential: Elite med

Coming into the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Filip Zadina was a clear number three pick in the eyes of many, potentially even battling Andrei Svechnikov for the number two spot. But, with the predicted top two gone, the next teams drafted to their needs, allowing the immensely talented Czech to fall to the Red Wings in sixth. His overall rating may be a bit low for NHL action at the start of the game, but his skating, puck skills, senses, and shooting attributes make him very usable straight away. 

The Detroit Red Wings have a very old team and will be looking to some of the highly-rated talents of this overflowing prospect pool very soon. It may take a season or two for NHL-ready skaters to emerge, but the likes of Michael Rasmussen, Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek, and Givani Smith aren’t too far off being good enough to earn a shot.

NHL 19 Detroit Red Wings Top Prospects