RUMOR: Could the Detroit Red Wings lose Xavier Ouellet over the summer?

RUMOR: Could the Detroit Red Wings lose Xavier Ouellet this summer?

It was not a great season for Detroit Red Wings fans in 2016-17. The storied franchise failed to make the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 25 seasons and doesn’t look destined for the post-season anytime soon. There were, however, some silver linings in the dark cloud of a season. For example: the play of 23 year-old defensemen Xavier Ouellet.

The Malik Report by way of Mlive Red Wings reporter Ansar Khan recently spoke with Ouellet to discuss his season and his plans for the future.

“I think my hockey sense and my compete level allowed me to play all these games this year,” Ouellet said. “I obviously got to keep working on a lot of things on the ice but one thing I’m going to do for sure is complete every night.”

In 66 games with the Wings this season, the big blue liner put up 3 goals and 12 points along with 55 penalty minutes. The irony of Ouellet’s situation is that finally, after years knocking at the door of becoming a full-time Red Wing, there’s a real chance that he’ll be chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights at this summer’s expansion draft. Whatever fate awaits Ouellet this summer, it’s expected that he’ll take the next step in his career and establish himself as a full-time, everyday NHL defenseman in 2017-18. Whether that’s with the Red Wings or not remains to be seen.