Free Agency vs. Prospects: Red Wings Roster Options and Ruck Twins - May 18th, 2026
Winged Wheel Podcast - A Detroit Red Wings Podcast
Winged Wheel Podcast
4.9 • 968 Ratings
🗓️ 18 May 2026
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This offseason Detroit Red Wings podcast tackles the biggest puzzle Steve Yzerman has: Red Wings free agency targets, internal options, and bottom-six fixes. Hockeytown news and analysis covers a "Moneyball" approach to the lineup, two intriguing draft prospects, and where things stand with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
(00:00) Intro
(04:15) Red Wings Offseason Strategy
If the big swing doesn't land in a trade for someone like Robert Thomas or Jason Robertson, what's the play? Confidently projecting Nate Danielson, Carter Mazer, and MBN into bottom-six roles, why nobody should feel comfortable walking into camp, and the case for moving on from J.T. Compher or Michael Rasmussen if any team is desperate enough.
(20:20) Free Agent Targets and Term
Why Bobby McMann, Mason Marchment, Viktor Arvidsson, and even Anthony Mantha could be on the radar, plus the importance of paying dollars instead of years on aging UFAs.
(32:10) Prospect Profiles: Ruck Twins
Liam and Markus Ruck led the WHL in scoring as a duo in Medicine Hat. Could Detroit get cute and try to land both?
(45:05) NHL & Stanley Cup Playoffs News
Vegas advances (and loses a second-round pick for their trouble), Mitch Marner finally shows up, and Colorado looks terrifying heading into the Western Conference Finals.
(52:55) Griffins Down 2-0
Michael Postava, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and a Chicago series that suddenly feels desperate after a blown lead in Game 2.
(57:05) Overtime Mailbag
Bill Guerin chasing Dylan Larkin rumors, Simon Edvinsson's next contract value, and a defenseman log jam that maybe isn't a log jam.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Wingwheel podcast, the number one source for news, analysis, and discussion on the Detroit Red Wings, the NHL, and all things hockey. |
| 0:19.2 | Here are your hosts, Brian Hanna, Brad Criscoe, and Evan Lopsinger. |
| 0:28.3 | Once again, as I was doom scrolling, |
| 0:30.9 | I stumbled across a bunch more 2017 draft musings |
| 0:36.8 | and thoughts on Rasmussen and all the players picked behind him, Robert Thomas, |
| 0:44.5 | Nick Suzuki, Marty Natchez, even if you're going to the second round, Jason Robertson. |
| 0:50.5 | Then I started playing around with the 2017 draft looking at some things. |
| 0:55.3 | You know, Kel McCar, Mero Heskin, and Nico Hescher, all go ahead of Rasmussen. |
| 1:00.1 | You know who leads that draft in scoring? |
| 1:03.1 | Elias Patterson. |
| 1:04.5 | I knew that one. |
| 1:06.5 | But, you know, I wanted having to hear it for himself. |
| 1:09.1 | Well, it helps that he had 100 points. |
| 1:11.3 | He's in just to, like, create a bit of a buffer. |
| 1:15.1 | A buffer. |
| 1:16.2 | I mean, you know he was the one who scored all 100 points, right? |
| 1:21.1 | Yes. |
| 1:23.6 | Why are you doom scrolling that, Brad? |
| 1:25.2 | Have you ever thought of, like, audiobooks or something? |
| 1:27.1 | Like, what do you? It was one of those ones where a tweet came up with an interesting stat around Rasmussen. So I click on the tweet to see the comments and then there's more info. And then, you know, by the time he clicked two tweets, you're in. I'm finding out everything I want to know about this entire subject right now. Yes, |
| 1:45.9 | if you're wondering how Brad's brain works, that's pretty much it. And it makes for a terrible |
| 1:50.7 | sense of self and happiness, but it does do well for the show. I was genuinely surprised to |
... |
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