The Detroit Red Wings were having their best season in over a decade this year. However, the team has now lost Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp to injury. Both centers are out for at least two weeks, and consequently the team is in bad shape. Detroit is about to slip out of playoff contention with only 16 games left to play.
The Red Wings made a splash acquiring Justin Faulk at the end of the trade deadline. Gritty forward David Perron was also acquired, however Perron is still not cleared to play. Still, there was a palpable excitement in the air. Yet, all that came crashing down in the final two minutes of a game against Florida.
Dylan Larkin was considered “day to day” and not in the game. Still, the team was doing well with a 3-2 lead late. Andrew Copp left the game injured, yet things still looked good for Detroit. The Panthers scored twice in the final two minutes and Detroit looked helpless. In the post game, it was revealed that Copp would not play in the next game. Thus, a bad night at the office turned into a potentially season ending disaster.
Larkin and Copp out for two weeks
Detroit’s lack of depth at center has been an ongoing issue for years. However, Larkin’s presence still gave the team an opportunity to compete. Losing both Larkin and Copp for two weeks means this team will play the next five games without a top six centerman. Hence, it is reasonable to expect that the two game slide could easily turn into a much bigger issue.
The Red Wings are just two points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who sit outside of the wildcard spots. Columbus has had a massive bump since a coaching change and are pushing hard. Therefore, the timing could not be worse for Detroit to come completely off the rails. The trade deadline is past, and there are no reasonable top six options available for Detroit right now.
Rookie Nate Danielson is highly thought of, but is also out injured. Danielson was reassigned to Grand Rapids as he struggled at the NHL level. Amadeus Lombardi was getting hot for the Griffins, however he too is back on the injured list. Even if both centers were healthy, neither is a legitimate top six option in the NHL right now.
One Game at a Time
Last season, Marco Kasper broke out in the second half and took hold of the 2C spot. However, Kasper’s sophomore season has been a huge disappointment. Kasper or J.T. Compher would have to find another level for this team to have a chance to move forward. Similar to last season, injuries may completely derail the final stretch for the Red Wings.
At this point, Detroit needs to play each game like it is their last for the rest of the season. The schedule is unforgiving right now, and time is short. However, Todd McLellan has done a lot to reshape this group in the past year. Detroit’s fate is in their own hands, however injuries are taking a toll that may be too great to overcome.
