After seven straight years missing the playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings are fighting hard to return to the post-season. This is why they could be ready to take the step this year.
The Detroit Red Wings have not only surprised the NHL with their performance this season, but they’ve also staked a claim to a potential playoff spot thanks to their upstart progress.
It’s been a long time coming. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, which is the longest active playoff drought among Original Six teams. However, there is hope for a breakthrough this year. A combination of team performance, coaching strategies and specific trade acquisitions could push the Wings into the post-season for the first time since 2016. Here are five reasons why the Wings are poised to make a playoff comeback:
1. Steve Yzerman’s Savvy Moves
Upon his return to the Red Wings in 2019 as executive vice-president and GM, Yzerman has been orchestrating moves that have played a significant role in the team’s success this season. Last summer, Yzerman worked to acquire many valuable skaters, such as Alex DeBrincat in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for two players and draft picks. The Michigan native is one of the team’s leading scorers, alongside summer UFA signings Daniel Sprong and Shayne Gostisbehere. These moves not only expanded the team’s offensive capabilities through Sprong’s emergence but also enhanced their options on the blueline with Gostisbehere.
In November, three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane signed with the Wings and has since played a vital role in the team’s improvement following his recovery from off-season hip surgery. Yzerman’s strategic summer was no accident. In an interview with the Associated Press, he disclosed his deliberate decision not to invest heavily in free agency or trades “until the team was good enough to compete.”
2. Alex Lyon’s Breakout Continues
Lyon, another player acquired by Yzerman last summer, has delivered a standout performance in the Wings’ crease this season. After signing a two-year, $1.8-million contract with Detroit on July 1, Lyon wasn’t expected to take on too much of the heavy lifting as the Wings already had Ville Husso as their main starter and James Reimer, who also signed the same day. However, as both Husso and Reimer endured injuries or setbacks, Lyon – whose success down the stretch with Florida last season played a crucial role in their playoff journey – rose to the challenge for the Red Wings. He leads the Wings in wins with 18, and his efforts in net have been a huge help for Detroit’s climb to playoff contention this season.
3. All for One, All for Offense
The Red Wings have demonstrated offensive prowess this season, with 13 players registering double-digit goal counts. This collective effort compensates for the absence of a single superstar goal-scorer on the team. Three of the team’s standout scorers are DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Wings captain Larkin has put up impressive numbers again this season with 28 goals and 56 points in 57 games. Larkin remains vital to the team’s offensive strategy, providing Detroit with stellar center play down the middle. However, he was on the sidelines for most of March after sustaining a lower-body injury on March 2. Before Larkin’s return on March 21, the Wings relied on DeBrincat and Raymond to shoulder more of the load.
Detroit’s playoff push has also seen notable contributions from two defensemen, Moritz Seider and Gostisbehere. The veteran Gostisbehere has kept the puck moving with 10 goals and 37 assists this season. Meanwhile, the team appears to be utilizing the youthful energy of Seider, the 2021-22 rookie of the year, as he continues to emerge as an all-situations defender. Should Detroit maintain their offensive level, their chances of clinching a playoff spot are even more promising than anticipated.
4. The Future is Now
On a roster that features some veteran players, two young bloods have been demonstrating great progress with their roles on the team. Raymond, 21, and Seider, 22, are generating opportunities both on the ice and for the team’s future. Raymond’s season has been a breakthrough on its own. He’s set career highs in goals, assists and points. Seider, meanwhile, leads Detroit in ice time at more than 22 minutes per game, meanwhile no other Wings player is playing more than 20 minutes a night. Given that both players already contribute impressive play, it is no doubt that their efforts will play a pivotal role in a trip to the playoffs and in shaping the future for Detroit.
5. Coach’s Secrets
No team performance can be praised without acknowledging its coach. The Wings’ Derek Lalonde has faith in his team as he tries to guide them out of their seven-year playoff drought. League-wide, the Wings are a top-10 team on the power play and rank sixth overall in goals per game. Lalonde’s approach to special teams has proven beneficial, reflecting both effective coaching and the team’s ability to execute. Lalonde’s work has propelled the team thus far in the season, and with a healthy and consistent roster, he’s working to send the Wings back to the playoffs for the first time in a long time.