| Pos | Role | Name |
| C | 1 | Pavel Datsyuk  ActiveThe Chicago Blackhawks have nothing but respect for Pavel Datsyuk. "He’s tricky," Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said. "I’d say probably the toughest guy one-on-one to handle in the league. He’s got a lot of different moves up his sleeve. ... I mean, I can’t say enough good things about him. We always have our hands full when we play him, and we have to be on top of our game." Datsyuk was nominated for the Selke Trophy on Wednesday and he's already won the award three times before. He couldn't save his team from a 4-1 loss in Game 1 though. May 16 |
| 2 | Valtteri Filppula ActiveDetroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says Valtteri Filppula needs to be a "huge factor" against the Chicago Blackhawks. Filppula, who is slated for free agency this summer, had one goal and four points in seven first-round games but also had some bad giveaways, particularly on a Game 6 goal by Emerson Etem. Due to the Hawks' great depth, the Red Wings need Filppula to be one of their best players without having to play alongside Henrik Zetterberg. May 14 |
| 3 | Joakim Andersson ActiveMike Babcock is a lot happier these days as he has three good offensive lines. The third line of Joakim Andersson, Damien Brunner and Gustav Nyquist has been outstanding for the Detroit coach as he put the trio together late in the regular season when the Red Wings promoted Nyquist and Andersson from the minors and dropped Brunner from the top line. "The Andersson line has been a key for us because we got worked in the three line the first two or three months (of the regular season)," Babcock said. "We couldn't handle it." May 20 |
| 4 | Cory Emmerton ActiveCory Emmerton will draw back into Detroit's lineup Wednesday night when they open the second round of the playoffs against Chicago. He suited up in the Red Wings' first six games in Round 1 versus Anaheim, but was a healthy scratch in Game 7. He will replace injured forward Mikael Samuelsson in the lineup and will center the fourth line his return. May 15 |
| 5 | Darren Helm  I.L.Darren Helm (back) skated for 10 minutes Monday and said he was "fatigued." Helm has played in just one game this season due to the back injury and the postseason is no time to try to get your legs back. We don't expect Helm to play again this season. Apr 30 |
| LW | 1 | Henrik Zetterberg ActiveHenrik Zetterberg had two assists in the Red Wings 4-1 win Saturday. The captain of the Red Wings moved into a tie for fourth place in NHL scoring as he now has 10 points in the playoffs, including three goals. He played 19:38 minutes Saturday and was the second star of the game. May 19 |
| 2 | Daniel Cleary ActiveDaniel Cleary had one assist on Saturday. Cleary is having a good offensive playoff with two goals and four assists in nine games. Kudos if you picked him late in your playoff pool. May 19 |
| 3 | Gustav Nyquist ActiveGustav Nyquist's first career playoff goal was the overtime winner in the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks to even their series at one apiece. Nyquist converted a pretty feed by Valtteri Filppula in overtime to give the Wings the 5-4 win and evening the series at one apiece. Johan Franzen continued to be a playoff scoring machine, scoring a pair of goals and giving him 73 points in 88 playoff games. The Red Wings took a different approach this season, letting the holes in their lineup be filled by their youngsters and they delivered in game two. Aside from Nyquist's goal, the Red Wings also got a goal and two assists from rookie Damien Brunner, and Justin Abdelkader also scored. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk can't be the only source of offense, so it's good to see the kids contributing. May 3 |
| 4 | Drew Miller ActiveCoach Mike Babcock was very pleased to have Drew Miller back in the lineup. Miller was out of the Detroit lineup since April 20 with a hand injury before returning Saturday. "I've got three penalty killers now on the fourth line," Babcock said. "Millsie knows how to play in all positions and he can really skate and get on the forecheck. He's not a big man but he's got a great stick and knows how to play, and so he makes us a much better team." Miller's return to the lineup bumped Todd Bertuzzi to the press box. May 19 |
| 5 | Todd Bertuzzi ActiveTodd Bertuzzi is a healthy scratch on Saturday. Drew Miller (hand) is ready to return and that's why Bertuzzi was pushed out of the lineup. Bertuzzi has no points and a minus-two rating in six playoff games. May 18 |
| 6 | Jordin Tootoo ActiveJordin Tootoo netted the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Los Angeles. Tootoo has three goals and seven points in 40 games this season. "Any time you can contribute, and as a fourth-line players, it's always exciting," said Tootoo. "You don't get that very often, so you make the best of it." Thanks in part to Tootoo's efforts, the Red Wings have moved up to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They will try to protect that position on Thursday against Nashville. Apr 25 |
| RW | 1 | Justin Abdelkader ActiveJustin Abdelkader has grown into a top-six forward. Abdelkader's physical play in the main reason he's moved up in the depth charts, but he also has some offensive upside. He had two goals and three points in five games in the first round. If he can continue to get top-six minutes next season, he'll be a candidate for a breakout season. May 15 |
| 2 | Johan Franzen ActiveJohan Franzen scored his fourth goal of the playoffs Saturday. Franzen broke out of scoring slump with his third period goal as he had gone the previous six games without a goal and the last three games without a point. The Red Wings are looking for the talented Franzen to be a difference maker in their series against the Blackhawks and Saturday's game could be the starting point. May 19 |
| 3 | Damien Brunner ActiveDamien Brunner is excelling on the third line with fellow rookies Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist. Brunner has four goals and seven points in nine playoff games to lead all first year players. Brunner is not actually considered a rookie because of his age but it is his first season in the NHL after a very good career in Europe. He played a lot of the regular season with Henrik Zetterberg but his play in the playoffs has been excellent as a third line player. "I really don't think (Brunner) has a clue what's going on," Jimmy Howard said with a chuckle. "I don't think he understands the realm of things and what can possibly happen as the playoffs unfold. He's in a good mood every single game. We got a lot of guys with a lot of energy, and you can just see the excitement on their faces." May 20 |
| 4 | Patrick Eaves ActivePatrick Eaves may be inserted in the Detroit lineup for Game 7. Eaves will likely replace one of Mikael Samuelsson or Todd Bertuzzi on the fourth line. Just an FYI in case you are in a very deep playoff pool. May 12 |
| 5 | Mikael Samuelsson  SidelinedMikael Samuelsson is still day-to-day with a sore pectoral muscle. Samuelsson originally sustained the injury on March 31 and returned to play in the first round against the Ducks, playing in the final five games of the series. He had a goal and an assist against Anaheim but has yet to play in round 2. Consider him questionable for Monday's contest. May 20 |
| D | 1 | Niklas Kronwall ActiveNiklas Kronwall picked up his second point of the playoffs Saturday. After a 29 point performance in 48 regular season games, Kronwall has struggled in the playoffs offensively as he has only two assists in nine games. He assisted on Johan Franzen's third period goal, along with Jonathan Ericsson. Kronwall needs to pick it up offensively for the Red Wings if Detroit has any hope in moving on to the Western Conference final. May 19 |
| 2 | Jonathan Ericsson ActiveJonathan Ericsson wasn't too happy with Detroit's defense in Game 1 of their second-round series. "I think it took way too long for us to get out of our own zone and when we get out we don’t have any energy to attack. … We have to do a much better job in the D-zone and the D’s got to do a better job of getting the pucks up and the forwards have to do a better job in being open," Ericsson said. Over the past few seasons, several Red Wings defensemen have either left the team or retired and that's pushed Ericsson into the position of being one of the team's veteran blueliners. He ranks second on the team with 18 hits and fourth with eight blocked shots. May 17 |
| 3 | Brendan Smith ActiveBrendan Smith had a great bounce back game Saturday after struggling in Game 1 Wednesday. Smith's second goal of the playoffs was the game winner and his overall play was crucial in the Red Wings win. "I thought Smitty was fantastic today," coach Mike Babcock said. "But he sure does seem to be in the middle of things, doesn't he?" The rookie defenseman is worth looking at in deeper pools next season as a sixth defenseman. May 19 |
| 4 | Dan DeKeyser SidelinedDefenseman Dan DeKeyser (broken thumb) skated on Friday. Before you get too excited that the rookie defenseman will be back in the lineup, he is still six-eight weeks away from returning. "I was just waiting to see the doctor and after he checked it out, he said I could get at least get on the ice and keep the legs going," he said. "I'm doing every little thing I can to make sure it gets better as quick as it can." Look for DeKeyser to be back for developmental camp in July. He has a lot of talent and should be considered late in deeper drafts next season if he is able to crack the Detroit lineup. May 18 |
| 5 | Kyle Quincey ActiveKyle Quincey was a healthy scratch Sunday. He was replaced by Brendan Smith in the lineup. "I don't have much to say on it," Quincey said. "Three guys are waiting and all ready to play and they're all good defensemen, so it's the nature of the beast." He has not had any fantasy value this season. Apr 15 |
| 6 | Jakub Kindl ActiveJakub Kindl had an assist on Tuesday. Unfortunately Kindl's efforts weren't enough to save Detroit in Game 1 of their first-round series versus Anaheim. He had four goals, nine assists, and a plus-15 rating in 41 games this season. May 1 |
| 7 | Ian White ActiveThe play of defensemen Brendan Smith and Dan DeKeyser have made Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo superfluous in Detroit. The Red Wings are excited about their young defensemen and Ian White has now been a healthy scratch the last six games. He has only played in 25 games with two goals and a couple of helpers and it appears that his time with the Red Wings is now short. Apr 23 |
| 8 | Carlo Colaiacovo ActiveCarlo Colaiacovo played his first game for the Red Wings since April 14th as he suited up for Game Six of their opening round playoff series against the Ducks Friday. The veteran blueliner only played in six regular season contests due to a shoulder ailment, but his puck-moving skills were a welcome addition for the Wings in his first game back "I thought Colaiacovo had a couple of shifts, like everyone else, he wishes he didn’t have, but I thought he played well,'' coach Mike Babcock said. There's little doubt Colaiacovo will be in the lineup in place of Brian Lashoff for Game Seven of the series Sunday night. May 11 |
| G | 1 | Jimmy Howard ActiveJimmy Howard turned aside 19 of 20 shots in a 4-1 victory against Chicago. That's quite a change of pace for Howard after facing 41 shots in Game 1. The Red Wings have managed to split the first two games in Chicago and rob the Blackhawks of their home ice advantage in this series. The Blackhawks were regarded as the overwhelming favorites going into the second round, but Detroit shouldn't be ignored. They might not look as good as the Red Wings' teams of old, but they certainly have enough talent to at least compete with anyone in the league. May 18 |
| 2 | Jonas Gustavsson ActiveOne of the major reasons the Red Wings have struggled this season is the lack of production they have received from their offseason free agent acquisitions. The group of incoming free agents was made up of Jonas Gustavsson, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jordin Tootoo, Mikael Samuelsson and Damien Brunner and the Swiss winger is the only member of that group to offer anything in the way of production although he has also struggled of late. Some of the difficulties have been related to injury, however there's no denying the fact these acquisitions haven't lived up to expectations. Apr 20 |
| 3 | Jared Coreau |