With 17-year veteran on board, Patrick Kane’s Red Wings could be free agency’s big win

Patrick Kane‘s Detroit Red Wings sought to add depth in NHL Free Agency this summer. The franchise has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last nine seasons, and the pressure is on to reverse that trend. In free agency, the Red Wings brought in forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, along with defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

All three players are expected to serve key roles in Detroit’s lineup. Bernard-Docker brings upside on the blue line and could compete with Justin Holl for a third-pairing job on the right side. In the long term, he may evolve into a second-pairing option.

Appleton, meanwhile, fits as a two-way forward. He’s capable of helping the penalty kill, an area where Detroit struggled last season, and adds physicality and versatility in the bottom-six.

Is James van Riemsdyk the most impactful Red Wings pickup?

However, neither Bernard-Docker nor Appleton has drawn as much praise as van Riemsdyk. According to Heavy.com’s Tristin McKinstry, the 17-year NHL veteran is the Red Wings’ best signing of the offseason. “van Riemsdyk can still provide important secondary scoring. He has scored 10 or more goals in every season of his career. He has scored 15 or more goals in four of the last six seasons, as well.“

Why familiarity could fuel a 2026 playoff run

Depth was clearly a priority in this free agency cycle, but van Riemsdyk’s experience and leadership elevate him above a typical depth addition. While expectations should remain measured in his 17th season, he could still rank among Detroit’s most consistent goal-scorers.

Adding to the intrigue is his connection with Red Wings star Patrick Kane. Both were the top two picks in the 2007 NHL Draft, and now, nearly two decades later, they’re reunited in Hockeytown.

“He’s one of my really good buddies and we’ve obviously kind of been on this whole journey together in a lot of ways,” van Riemsdyk said via NHL.com. “We’ve been through some different USA Hockey things over the years.”