Detroit Red Wings: Dominik Kubalík off to an impeccable start in 2022-23

The Detroit Red Wings made the move to sign winger Dominik Kubalík during the off-season this summer. The cap-efficient winger was had at a great price. The 27-year-old Kubalík agreed to a two-year, $2.5 million contract to join the Red Wings.

As the Detroit Red Wings came into the season, it felt that Kubalík might not be able to get out of the bottom six unless he tapped into some scoring. Now, as the month of December trudges on, he is second to the team in points.

Kubalík has tapped into the scoring early and has worked his way into the team’s top six. Beyond that, he has been able to shine on the team’s special teams and help the team convert with a man advantage.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dominik Kubalík off to an impeccable start.

As the season continues, Kubalík has logged 25 games where he has ten goals and 15 assists for 25 total points. Five goals and seven assists have come with a man advantage and helped the Red Wings pick up some offense on the power play, something unheard of in years past.

With his point-per-game pace he’s at, he would finish the 2022-23 season with 82 points. It would be his career-best by 36 points. It would be more than double what he put up with the Chicago Blackhawks in each of the last two seasons.

The Red Wings have to be thrilled with this level of performance out of the winger who’s been excelling so far. He’s been able to make things happen with the puck on his stick and find the back of the net, something that the Red Wings have been looking for, for years.

Coming into this season, it was well-known that there would be more forward core players pulling their weight. The Red Wings have gotten good and bad out of their new signees, but Kubalík has undoubtedly been a bright spot.

He’s having quite the breakout to pair. The production is there, and the shot has looked quite dialed in lately. Maybe it’s a stretch since Filip Zadina is still around and had an extremely high ceiling coming in, but Kubalík has brought that shooting ability Zadina was anticipated to have.

Kubalík has been able to find the back of the net with a sniper-like shot. On the power-play, the one-timer and quick release has been exceptional. He sets up on the right side and lets it rip. It’s been fun to watch, and Red Wings fans should be thrilled with how he has performed in 2022-23.