Detroit Red Wings not 'Legitimate Contenders'?
In NHL.com's Five Questions With series, Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland admitted be believes that the Wings are not legitimate contenders:
25 straight playoffs is a solid achievement; but since the Red Wings haven't made it past the Conference Semifinals since the 2008-09 season, that achievement doesn't really count for much as it isn't bringing any silverware home. We haven't made it past the first round in the last three seasons.
Let's be honest, this time last year did anyone really consider the San Jose Sharks a 'legitimate contender'? The Pittsburgh Penguins weren't exactly a shoo-in either, especially after head coach Mike Johnston was removed from the organisation mid-season. The division-winning Washington Capitals were the hot favourite to make the final, and many thought (including me) that Ovechkin would be hoisting the cup. Didn't make it past the second round.
Is Holland right when he says the team aren't legitimate contenders? I get what he means; we've not progressed in the cup for a while and we're going into the new season minus our superstar Pavel Datsyuk. That said, we've a raft of new signings, some good, some questionable, but we still have some talent and some depth.
In Holland's interview he bemoans Detroit's lack of a superstar, and he's right. Snagging Steven Stamkos would have been a huge deal for the team. Risky but worth it. The Red Wings just don't have that big name to put up big points. After Zetterberg and Datsyuk; Tomas Tatar and Dylan Larkin scored the most points with 45 each.
The key to Detroit's success lies with developing its young talent, that's not a groundbreaking hot-take, it's been that way for a few seasons now. Henrik Zetterberg scored 50 points in 82 games, leading the points for the Red Wings, which is a great contribution but 50 points barely scratches the top 100 points scorers in the league (he finished 95th). And he isn't getting any younger. Incidentally Leon Draisaitl scored more than Zetterberg and he plays for the Edmonton Oilers, a team who last made the playoffs 10 years ago.
I don't expect the Red Wings to win the 2016-17 Stanley Cup, although obviously I'd love it if we did. Can we make it to the playoffs? It's not impossible, we may need a stroke of luck (again) but some of the pieces are in place. The Mike Babcock hangover has passed and Jeff Blashill continues to impress and you can't argue that we don't have a great goalie in net.
Fair play to Holland for being candid; but I'd rather he be on the phone trying to trade for that missing superstar. I'd take any of top points scorers. Except Brad Marchand.
"I don't know that there are more than five or six legitimate Stanley Cup contenders; we're probably not in that group." Ken Holland to NHL.comIs this a kick in the teeth for Red Wings fans or a much-needed blast of realism? Is anyone surprised by Holland's words? Probably not. Having been a Red Wing fan for as long as I can remember, I'm under no illusions that the team aren't in the best place for winning Lord Stanley's cup. I'm not even sure we'll make the playoffs.
25 straight playoffs is a solid achievement; but since the Red Wings haven't made it past the Conference Semifinals since the 2008-09 season, that achievement doesn't really count for much as it isn't bringing any silverware home. We haven't made it past the first round in the last three seasons.
Let's be honest, this time last year did anyone really consider the San Jose Sharks a 'legitimate contender'? The Pittsburgh Penguins weren't exactly a shoo-in either, especially after head coach Mike Johnston was removed from the organisation mid-season. The division-winning Washington Capitals were the hot favourite to make the final, and many thought (including me) that Ovechkin would be hoisting the cup. Didn't make it past the second round.
Is Holland right when he says the team aren't legitimate contenders? I get what he means; we've not progressed in the cup for a while and we're going into the new season minus our superstar Pavel Datsyuk. That said, we've a raft of new signings, some good, some questionable, but we still have some talent and some depth.
In Holland's interview he bemoans Detroit's lack of a superstar, and he's right. Snagging Steven Stamkos would have been a huge deal for the team. Risky but worth it. The Red Wings just don't have that big name to put up big points. After Zetterberg and Datsyuk; Tomas Tatar and Dylan Larkin scored the most points with 45 each.
The key to Detroit's success lies with developing its young talent, that's not a groundbreaking hot-take, it's been that way for a few seasons now. Henrik Zetterberg scored 50 points in 82 games, leading the points for the Red Wings, which is a great contribution but 50 points barely scratches the top 100 points scorers in the league (he finished 95th). And he isn't getting any younger. Incidentally Leon Draisaitl scored more than Zetterberg and he plays for the Edmonton Oilers, a team who last made the playoffs 10 years ago.
I don't expect the Red Wings to win the 2016-17 Stanley Cup, although obviously I'd love it if we did. Can we make it to the playoffs? It's not impossible, we may need a stroke of luck (again) but some of the pieces are in place. The Mike Babcock hangover has passed and Jeff Blashill continues to impress and you can't argue that we don't have a great goalie in net.
Fair play to Holland for being candid; but I'd rather he be on the phone trying to trade for that missing superstar. I'd take any of top points scorers. Except Brad Marchand.
#LGRW
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