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Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom. (Photo courtesy of Dan4th/Flikr)
For a team that’s had the unparalleled success that the Red Wings have had for, oh, the last 15 years or so, finding themselves 3rd in their division, and 10th in the Western Conference isn’t so much unfamiliar, as it is mind-boggling.
Granted, this team lost a lot of firepower in the off-season after losing Marian Hossa (Chicago) and Jiri Hudler (Dynamo Moscow), but the Wings still had Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg up front, and stalwart Nicklas Lidstrom manning the blueline. Three superstars–heck, most teams have one superstar, two if they’re lucky.
So what the hell is going on then?
Injuries. Plain and simple, no team has been snake-bitten with unfortunate injuries like the Red Wings have. Gone for extended periods of time are C Valtteri Filppula (broken wrist), LW Johan Franzen (torn ACL), D Andreas Lilja (long-term injured reserve for post-concussion syndrome), and Detroit’s most recent casualty, RW Jason Williams (broken leg).
Special teams are another area of concern for this team. The Red Wings power play has been middle-of-the-pack, and I mean that literally. Detroit is 15th in the NHL in power play percentage, with a middling 20%. But their penalty killing is worse–way worse. Try 26th in the league worse, at 75.9%. Which is staggering when you think of the special teams units this squad can put out on the ice on a nightly basis. Poor special teams play, though, is a problem that coach Mike Babcock can fix.
But this ain’t your father’s Detroit Red Wings. Parity has slowly crept it’s way into the NHL. If you don’t believe me, check the standings of the Central Division, where Columbus reigns supreme, followed by a new-look Chicago Blackhawks team (and by new-look, I mean their years of suckitude are history). Plus, these guys aren’t getting any younger. Lidstrom is 39-years-old, Kris Draper is 38–heck, even starting goaltender Chris Osgood is 36 (which makes sense, seeing that he wears a mask from the “Billy Smith” collection, circa 1980).
Thomas Holstrom of the Detroit Red Wings. (Photo courtesy of Dan4th/Flikr)
It’s hard to say how this team will fare over the course of an 82-game schedule. Detroit got off to a slow start, compiling a rather pedestrian record of 4-4-3 over it’s first 11 games, before reeling off three straight victories over a trio of pretty damn good teams. The wins over Calgary, Boston and San Jose had many, including yours truly, believing this team had turned the corner, and despite the off-season losses and mounting injuries, that they were ready to climb to their rightful spot atop the Central Division.
Of course, those dreams were dashed in about 60 minutes of play this past Saturday against the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs. A lacklustre effort resulted in a 5-1 shellacking at the hands of said Leafs.
But it’s a long season, with a truckload of hockey still left to play, so there’s very few people thinking this team won’t be at or near the top of the standings when all is said and done. But they need to right the ship soon, otherwise the Red Wings will find themselves in an even more unfamiliar scenario–fighting for a playoff spot.
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Excellent synopsis of their woes…I mean season, so far this year. They’re a dangerous team that no one in the Central takes for granted.
Thanks Rick. Me personally, I think they’ll turn it around sooner than later. They’ll make some moves, personnel wise. They didn’t get as successful as they are by sitting on their hands.