Are the Red Wings suffering Stanley Cup hangover, without winning the Cup?

The Stanley Cup can create quite a hangover (Photo by jvh at flickr)

Last season Mike Babcock didn’t admit that there was such a thing as a Stanley Cup hangover as the Detroit Red Wings didn’t play up to their potential throughout much of last season. He didn’t want to publicly provide an excuse for his players to lean on when in fact the issues they faced were squarely rooted in their effort and focus.

Afterall the Red Wings were winning and getting points, and were able to keep the San Jose Sharks in sight in the Western Conference standings, and keep the Chicago Blackhawks at bay.

It was difficult to muster urgency for regular season games knowing they could make it to the playoffs with less than their best effort on most nights. And the intensity of the playoffs is difficult to recreate on a Wednesday night in November when you are playing the Phoenix Coyotes.

So what about this season? The Red Wings afterall walked the same path as the previous season, but the result was different. Wouldn’t playing into June and losing have the same effect on the body as playing into June and winning, with the difference being more psychological than anything else. Winning feels better, and losing just adds a little more sting to the pain the body absorbed.

So is it possible the Red Wings are once again suffering from the “non-existent” Stanley Cup hangover?

Sure it’s just seven games into the season, but they are are no longer looking down at the rest of the Western Conference, they are fourth in the Central and 11th in the Conferernce. And let’s not overlook the fact that every problem the Red Wings faced last season has already resurfaced this season.

They still can’t kill penalties (19th, 75.9%), they are guilty of too many turnovers (30th, 91 giveaways), goaltending is a concern (3.43 GAA, tied for 23rd) as Chris Osgood is hot and cold and Jimmy Howard has yet to show he is ready to be an NHL goalie, despite being a fifth-year pro. And they are guilty of not playing a full 60 minutes on most nights having given up a two goal lead in three of their four losses and the other loss was a blowout in Buffalo.

But of course Detroit defied hockey logic last year, and despite sleepwalking through much of the 82-game schedule, they were able to “flip the switch” so to speak and play to their potential in the playoffs. The penalty killing improved, turnovers were reduced, Osgood played extremely well again just as he promised and 60-minute efforts weren’t an issue.

And that perhaps that is what makes this hangover a greater challenge for the Red Wings and Babcock to overcome. The mindset that they can once again ”flip the switch” when they have to and everything will be fine again.

Mike also covers the Detroit Red Wings for examiner.com