Can Detroit Seriously Contend For The Cup?

It's been difficult for Detroit Red Wings fans recently.

Of the ten games played so far in November, the Wings have lost seven of them, five of those at the Joe Louis Arena. Fans can almost forgive a road loss, but when a team comes to Detroit and wins? Well that hurts that little bit more.

It's not like there was a shortage of goals either, in the seven losses, Detroit were only shutout by Nashville. For the season so far, the Wings are scoring 2.52 goals per game (average). Which is okay but it's not cup winning form.

I met a Detroit fan today who'd stopped following the NHL a few years back. We reminisced about the days when Nicklas Lidstrom was a brick wall on the blue line, and how Detroit's Swedish contingent was unstoppable.

Then we realised that those days are behind us. Lidstrom is retired and the Wings haven't found a replacement to fill that gap. I'm not entirely sure that anyone exists who's as good as Lidstrom was. There's hope that young Danny DeKeyser is the answer to the Wings' defensive issues. But DeKeyser is young, and still learning his trade in the top level of hockey.

Although Defensive issues seem to Detroit's Achilles' heel this season. With injuries and reshuffles aplenty there hasn't been much consistency in the offensive lines either. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are showing their usual flair and have the lions share of the goals, but since they usually play on the same line, it highlights the fact that the other three lines aren't producing the goals. 

It's also fair to say that the train that runs between Detroit and Grand Rapids is packed with hockey players. So far this season we've seen Jordin Tootoo, Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton have been waived and assigned to the Griffins. Not to mention the various skaters that have been called up to cover injuries. 

The win against Carolina brings with it a new found confidence, especially for Nyquist, who scored twice in the 4-3 win over the Hurricanes at the Joe. But, and with no disrespect to the 'Canes, you'd expect Detroit to have won that game. 

As I write this, Detroit are losing 2-1 against the the Ottawa Senators. A team who embarrassed Detroit earlier this season. This first period seems to encapsulate the season so far. Scoring, but also conceding. Many of the losses this month were the result of overtime games or shoot outs. These losses hurt more than than simply being outplayed, like by Winnipeg and Nashville. Those two teams were simply better on the night. But to take the lead and then lose? That's a kicker.

After last season's chase to get a playoff spot, the fans are losing patience with the Detroit front office. When players like Damien Brunner and Valtteri Filppula are allowed to leave, both skaters who regularly had ice time, but Jordin Tootoo stayed? Tootoo spent the majority of his season so far as a healthy scratch, and that angered the fans. 

Sure Filppula didn't absolutely fit in with Mike Babcock's style, but he scored goals and is doing well at the Lightning. Damien Brunner turned up from nowhere and became the go-to guy for goals. Now he's at New Jersey and is struggling to keep his space in the lineup. 

Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall are putting in great performances, but individuals don't win Stanley Cups. Right now it's hard to see the Red Wings performing as a team at the top of its game. I want to see the team lift the Cup for a 12th time more than anything, but as it stands that isn't going to happen. The one glimmer of light for Wings fans is that it's still early in the season, and the injury woes that have plagued the team seem to be a thing of the past. Maybe the return of Darren Helm will be the tonic that Detroit needs. 

To answer the question posed at the start, can Detroit be a contender? Right know it's hard to see how they can.