Next up in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleeper series is the Detroit Red Wings. This team is expected to be better than last season with all the changes made to the roster. They added quite a bit and trimmed the fat. With new players comes the possibility for new opportunities and chemistry to be formed. The Red Wings have lots of talent and we could see the lines play out a number of different ways.
The Red Wings have some players who won’t be overlooked in fantasy hockey, but definitely some that will be. That is why we are here today, to identify these sleepers on this sleeper team. Now let’s take a look at some of the sleepers for the Red Wings this season in fantasy hockey.
Detroit Red Wings Sleepers for 2023-24 Fantasy Hockey
Michael Rasmussen
Over the past half a year, the Red Wings lost Tyler Bertuzzi and Dominik Kubalik but gained Alex DeBrincat. That means there is an open top-six spot for the taking. Michael Rasmussen is the leading candidate to take that role. Many who are looking at the Red Wings roster might not think the same. Unfortunately for the team, but fortunately for Rasmussen, Robby Fabbri is always injured. Not only does the injury-prone player being out of the lineup give Rasmussen a better shot, but the young center/winger is also arguably better than Fabbri is anyway.
Rasmussen is definitely deserving of a shot. It will be interesting to see what he can do with a full season now that he is on the verge of breaking out. He set a new career high in points while missing 26 games last season. With players like David Perron and J.T. Compher beside him, I can see 45-50 points this season.
Daniel Sprong
Daniel Sprong did great things from the fourth line on the Seattle Kraken last season. It finally earned him a payday higher than $1 million AAV. But that came with finding a new team to play for as well. He has shown great scoring ability for years, especially when his first year pro in the AHL he recorded 65 points in 65 games. Unfortunately, he has never been given a real chance with lots of ice time.
Sprong is only 26 years old and it is clear he’s trying to take the next step. He scored 21 goals and 46 points in 66 games from the fourth line last season. That is very impressive and deserves at least a look on the third line on the Red Wings. This is a team that is trying to break into the playoffs, and they’ll need all the help they can get. He played at a 26-goal, 57-point pace last season. If his linemates are Fabbri and Andrew Copp, Sprong could very well reach 40 points again. I would be a bit wary because of limited ice time and a potential drop-off in a new situation. Monitor him closely because he can produce offense.
Shayne Gostisbehere
The Red Wings didn’t really have a go-to on the power play once Filip Hronek left last season. Moritz Seider and Jeff Petry can take some of the duties on the second unit, but Shayne Gostisbehere was brought in for one main reason. He specializes in the power play and can take the team’s top unit to the next level. He will also have a strong partner despite likely playing third-line minutes. It doesn’t seem like anybody on the Red Wings is going to run away with ice time this season.
No matter where Gostisbehere plays, teams know where to utilize him. In fantasy hockey, power-play points are generally important in every league. There are usually only 35-40 defensemen to draft or roster who even get suitable power-play points for fantasy too. If you can jump on Gostisbehere in the later rounds, definitely do it. He will be able to get even strength points as well on an improved Detroit team.
The Red Wings look to be better than they were last season. They should stay in the playoff race for longer and not sell their assets. There is lots of opportunity to go around and these three fantasy sleeper picks on Detroit should serve you well at times throughout the season. The next team in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers series is the Florida Panthers.
Make sure to check out all of the sleepers and breakouts of the 2023 fantasy hockey season!
Looking for more great fantasy hockey analysis? Check out our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit for team previews, rankings, and all the sleepers you can shake a stick at.