Heading into free agency, concerns arose about the Detroit Red Wings' level of activity. During an interview before the start of free agency, Steve Yzerman warned that he was not optimistic about the team's chances in free agency and would focus more on the trade market.
With a few holes on the roster, this was the last thing fans wanted to hear; however, they held out hope that Yzerman would make a blockbuster deal during the opening days of free agency.
However, after the initial rush of free agency, the Red Wings were not overly aggressive.