“Red Wings One Mega-Deal from Cup Glory: Could Shesterkin Be the Game-Changer?”

The Red Wings may have a franchise goaltender in the making, but there’s one who could be a free agent next season that would transform this team.

The 2024-25 NHL season is fast approaching, and while some fans prefer to focus on the present, it’s understandable. After all, living in the moment has its perks! However, the Red Wings still seem a ways off from being genuine Stanley Cup contenders, even if they could find themselves in a playoff run come late April and May.

That said, the team could be just one key player away from boosting their chances—and that player might be a franchise goaltender. In a “way-too-early free-agent destination” article, Adam Gretz from Bleacher Report has included the Wings as top contenders for Igor Shesterkin when he hits the market in the summer of 2025.

While Shesterkin aims to help the New York Rangers break their championship drought this season, he currently has no contract extension in sight. This opens the door for teams like the Wings to potentially land him, even with promising prospect Sebastian Cossa in the fold.

Gretz also mentioned the Rangers, along with other notable teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Some fans might prefer Shesterkin to avoid those rivals, but if he were to join Detroit, the Wings could become serious Cup contenders for years to come.

With recent extensions for young stars Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond—a standout defenseman and forward, respectively—and the addition of veteran players like Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, the Wings are building a strong foundation. The mix of talent includes a reliable backup like Cam Talbot, who could pair well with a top-tier goalie like Shesterkin.

With a core that features Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Simon Edvinsson, and Michael Rasmussen, it’s hard to pinpoint any weak links in Detroit’s lineup.

For now, we’ll have to see if the Rangers secure Shesterkin’s future soon, but that doesn’t seem likely. If the race for Shesterkin opens up and Gretz’s insights ring true, the Red Wings could be just one blockbuster deal away from truly contending for the Cup.