NHL
Note to Reader:
Before we start, I would like to send a huge “Thank You” to Sean O’Connor for writing Montreal’s 31 in 31 for me while I was away. Great job on the article Sean! Go check out some of his other articles. Now let’s begin.
The Detroit Red Wings Look to Bounce Back by Adding a Goal Scorer and Goal Tender.
In Hockeytown, missing the playoffs is somewhat of a nonoccurrence. But after back to back seasons of missing out on the final sixteen, changes need to be made in Detroit. This is the first time the Red Wings have missed the playoffs two years in a row since 1981-82 and 1982-83. The first thing that can be done is to stop handing out cancerous contracts (i.e., Justin Abdelkader’s 7-year, $4.25 million AAV (signed in 2015)).
Have the Red Wings Gotten Better?
This question may be tricky to answer. Detroit added a backup goalie in Jonathan Bernier who can also battle for a starting spot as we saw last year in Colorado. The Red Wings also added a scoring help to replace an ailing Captain. If Henrik Zetterberg plays this season, the Red Wings have gotten better; if he does not play, I could see Detroit with a top 8 pick in next year’s draft.
Additions
Up front, the Detroit Red Wings added veteran Thomas Vanek to a one year $3 million deal. Last season, Vanek put up 24 goals and 32 assists in 80 games split up between Vancouver and Columbus. Thomas Vanek is a solid Winger who can put up several points if he is played with Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings also added Filip Zadina via the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as 6th overall. Zadina put up 44 goals and 38 assists in 57 games last year with the Halifax Mooseheads. If Detroit does not use Filip Zadina in the NHL this season, he will play another year in Juniors
Detroit came into the offseason with a question mark in net. The Red Wings added a great backup or 1-B type goalie by signing Jonathan Bernier to a three-year deal worth $3 million annually. Bernier is a player who can challenge Jimmy Howard for a starting spot. Bernier won 19 games last season with Colorado and put up a Goals Against Average of 2.85 and had Save Percentage of 91.3 percent.
Subtractions
Xavier Ouellet was bought out by Detroit on June 24, 2018, to make room to sign Dylan Larkin and company. In doing so, the Red Wings lost a defenseman who put up 7 assists in 45 games last season. Detroit also declined to offer David Booth a contract extension. Last season Booth scored four goals and added one assist in 28 games. Booth is still unsigned in free agency.
**The biggest subtraction for the team is Henrik Zetterberg. Detroit’s Captain has been battling a bad back for a while and may be unable to play the 2018-19 season. According to this article published by USA Today, Zetterberg was not practicing towards the end of last year due to back pains. It has also been reported that Henrik Zetterberg has been unable to train this summer. Last season, the Captain put up 56 points (11 Goals, 45 Assists) in 82 games.
**It is not confirmed that Zetterberg will not return
Where the Detroit Red Wings Stand
A Detroit team with Henrik Zetterberg on it has a Net Gain total of 44 player points gained; without Zetterberg, the Net Gain is far lower coming in at a -12. This is where things get tough because the Red Wings could be in a good spot this year if their Captain is in the lineup but without him, they could be a ship lost at see without a captain. On the bright side, by adding Jonathan Bernier the team has a Net Gain of 19 wins added.
On the forward side of things, I like the addition of Thomas Vanek. Although he is 34, Vanek can still put up assists as well as goals. I am also intrigued by Filip Zadina’s situation. It is very possible that Zadina makes the Big League out of training camp.
The back end seems week and may need a lot of goal support in order to win games. Don’t be surprised though if the tandem of Jimmy Howard and Bernier steal some games. With the addition of Bernier, I am going to remain skeptical of the goalie situation here in Detroit. As I noted earlier, Howard has lost his starting job before, but so has Bernier. Red Wings Coach Jeff Blashill may just have to ride the hot hand until the mitts get cold and the team needs a reset. in
With the defensive depth, not there and the goaltending situation I am not sure that Detroit can do much better than 75-80 points next season. Their coach could end up being on the hot seat if the Red Wings end up missing the playoffs for the third straight year. I have a feeling that Detroit will end up 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Follow Jared on Twitter at: @jared_pettus_00
