For the second straight year, the Detroit Red Wings were ousted by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Fortunately for the Wings, they've made the playoffs every year since 1990 and this season will be no exception. GM Ken Holland had his hands full this summer, begging Nicklas Lidstrom to come back for at least another season - a crucial move because of Brian Rafalski's retirement. Rafalski is a big loss, but some additions made this off-season should help. Mike Babcock is the knowledgeable boss behind the bench. He’s been an NHL coach since 2002 and will continue to demand excellence from his team. With about $5 million left in cap space, there will be more shake-ups in this lineup. The only question is when.
On offense, the Red Wings have solid depth throughout their roster beginning with two of the most dynamic forwards in the league: Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Throughout his career, and especially in last season’s playoffs, Datsyuk has amazed hockey fans with both his defensive play and his offensive dangles. He’s won the Frank J. Selke Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy a number of times. You’d be hard-pressed to find another player in the NHL that understands body positioning and angles better than this guy. It seems every time he’s battling along the boards, he comes out with the puck. In my opinion, he is the best player in the league right now. Expect another stellar season from Datsyuk – maybe even 100 points. Zetterberg is another superstar forward, but plays a slightly different game. He doesn’t have the same stick-handling skills as Datsyuk, but his hockey sense is right on par. Zetterberg has a great shot and never passes up an opportunity to fire the puck on net – his 306 shots last season are evidence. He has a great mindset consistently directing him towards the front of the net. I anticipate his production, barring any injuries of course, to be around 80 points again this season. Johan Franzen, or the Mule, is another sniper for the Wings with 248 shots last season. His 28 goals led the team, but he has only eclipsed the 30-goal mark once in his career. This coming season should be his second. He receives enough power play and general ice time to accomplish this. I’d like to see him utilize his size more, especially in front of the net. Valtteri Filppula is a versatile forward that can play both down the middle and on the wing. Sometimes, when I watch him play, I confuse him with Datsyuk because of the way he skates. The confusion lasts until Filppula gives the puck away. He has so much potential and Wings’ fans are waiting for him to blossom. His 39 points last year weren’t terrible, but with his talent and salary cap hit, he should be closer to 50. Jiri Hudler is next on the cap chart at $2.875 million for one, last year. After spending a year in the KHL, Hudler came back last season. His dismal play saw him finish at a team worst negative seven with 37 points. For a player expected to produce 50 points, this was a huge disappointment. Trade rumors are rampant, but hopefully Hudler can silence them with a strong start this coming season. Daniel Cleary, on the other hand, had a fantastic season. A former first round draft pick, Cleary did not live up to expectations in Chicago and was subsequently passed around to a few other teams. On Detroit, Cleary has been a consistent 40-point producer over the past five seasons. His talent and work ethic combine for what should be another great season. After his violent incident in Vancouver, Todd Bertuzzi was traded to the Wings. He left, then came back for another stint after a few years. Since the incident, Bertuzzi hasn’t quite been the same physical player or scorer. He puts up consistent 40-point seasons, but needs to understand he can still play physically without endangering other players. Tomas Holmstrom has been a work-horse for the Wings his entire career. When it comes to screening goalies and deflecting pucks, Holmstrom is the best in the league. He’s definitely not the most talented player at 38 years old and his skills are diminishing as I write this piece, but his presence in Detroit’s lineup has been and will continue to be invaluable. Patrick Eaves has been a wonderful surprise since signing in Detroit. He recently re-upped with the Wings, signing a three-year deal worth $1.2 million per season. This is a great deal for a player who plays the penalty kill and important “grind line” minutes. With the ability to score more than a few goals, Eaves is definitely a noteworthy player. Darren Helm is Kris Draper reinvented with more skill, except for his faceoff ability. Helm’s speed and work ethic is second to none. At $912,000 this year, he is easily one of the biggest steals in the league. Expect more ice time and better production from him this season. The same applies for Justin Abdelkader. He took big strides last season and it’s exemplified in his plus/minus at 15 - the highest on a talented team. He’s not as fast as Helm, but brings with him size and grit that will be counted on to protect the stars in the lineup. Drew Miller was also signed over the summer for a two-year deal worth $1.675 million. Much like Eaves and Helm, Miller brings determination and hard work every night. Although not incredibly flashy, he sure does make an impact when he’s on the ice, especially around the cage. Jan Mursak and Cory Emmerton are going to get their first real shot at a roster spot this season. Combined, they played a total of 21 games last season – each accumulating one assist. They will get more ice time this season, although they will likely battle the emerging Tomas Tatar.
Offensive Score: A-
The defense of the Red Wings is likely to see drastic changes in the coming years with the eventual retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom has won seven Norris Trophies and if he played for another five years, would likely be in the running every year. One can’t say enough about a defenseman who’s had such an impact on not only his team, but the entire National Hockey League. He’s a future hall of famer and the epitome of a class act. Brad Stuart is an 11-year veteran, and at 31, still has many years ahead of him. He missed 15 games last season with a broken jaw, but came back relatively quickly for such a painful injury. He and his defensive partner Niklas Kronwall play physical defense without sacrificing positioning. Hopefully the Wings resign him during or after this season. Speaking of Kronwall, ouch. He is a fantastic open-ice checker who also contributes a significant amount offensively – 37 points last season. He may not be the second coming of Lidstrom as was once thought, but his progress certainly has been impressive. He’ll be asked to contribute more with every season and the organization looks forward to his development. Jonathon Ericsson received a nice raise this summer with a three-year contact worth $9.75 million. This is likely due to the lack of free agent defenseman available, but that’s still a lot for a player who’s never eclipsed the 20-point mark. The club is expecting major steps to be made by Ericsson this season. Ian White was signed as an unrestricted free agent this summer to help soften the blow of Rafalski’s retirement. White never really put his game together in Carolina or San Jose, but the Wings are hoping his potential finally shines in Motown. The sixth and final spot will be a battle between three players: Mike Commodore, Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith. Commodore is an experienced NHL defenseman with a bit of history with Mike Babcock. Kindl played half of last season as a rookie, but only put up four points. He still played a respectable 13 minutes per game. Finally, Smith is a young prospect who’s developed for a few years in the AHL. The organization thinks he may be ready for the big league. We shall see!
Defensive Score: B+
In goal, the Wings have an emerging, young goaltender in Jimmy Howard and an experienced back-up in Ty Conklin. Howard had a bit of a down season last year, but displayed his abilities to be a stud the year before. Critics like to point to the team in front of him as cause for his success, but that’s always the case in Detroit. Howard lets in a few soft shots here and there, but overall is a very solid goaltender. Conklin is back in red and white for his second go-around. His first stint with the club was the best of his career, winning 25 games. The Wings are safe if Howard stumbles early in the season with Conklin – and even his backup, Joey MacDonald, who had a tremendous year backing up Howard last season.
Goaltending Score: B+/B
Lidstrom wants to lift that Cup one more time.
No comments:
Post a Comment