The Detroit Red Wings are going to miss the playoffs for a tenth straight season. The team’s strongest season in a decade wasn’t enough to get to the post season. There was improvement, however it wasn’t enough for the team to achieve their goals. Consequently, big changes could be on their way to Detroit.
Steve Yzerman will face a gamut of questions as the team saw another severe falloff in the month of March. Similarly, Dylan Larkin will be asked to reflect on the team’s downfall. Coach Todd McLellan has made his own frustrations well known. Furthermore, everyone seems to be willing to claim responsibility for the result.
Detroit ended the season with 92 points, their highest finish since 2016. Ironically, 92 points would have been enough each of the past three seasons to get to the playoffs. However, the bar was raised this year and Detroit still fell short. There seems to be an expectation of some major changes his summer by fans and pundits alike.
The Red Wings are too weak at center
Dylan Larkin was able to eclipse 30 goals for the fifth straight season. Larkin was driven to lead the team to the playoffs, however injuries once again derailed those hopes. The Captain was injured at the beginning of March, and has never fully recovered. Larkin returned, however it’s clear that he is nowhere near 100%.
The Red Wings tried to compete in the month of March without a legitimate top six centerman. Andrew Copp was also out with injury, thus JT Compher was given top line duties. This is the second straight year that Larkin has been injured before the final stretch, and the team has fallen off drastically. The Red Wings need to find another top six centerman, or this cycle will continue.
Copp performed admirably for the team starting in December. Still, it can be argued that Copp is best suited in a third line role. Dylan Larkin may be the only true top six centerman that Detroit has right now. Thus, losing him means losing any ability for the team to find long term success. Marco Kasper was slated for the second line, but his second year was a grave disappointment. It can be argued that there is no legitimate top six centerman in the system at all right now. Rookie Nate Danielson projects, for many, to be a third line center. The Red Wings need to find someone outside the organization to fill this void.
There is still hope for the future
Moritz Seider had a career season, with 10 goals and 50 assists. Seider has emerged as a true number one defenseman. Simon Edvinsson, when healthy, helped create a top pairing that Detroit has lacked for far too long. The Red Wings have something to build on with their blue line now.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has shown promise this season in the AHL. MBN eclipsed 20 goals in his rookie season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Eddie Genborg, still just 18, also looks to show promise after a strong post draft year in Europe. The Griffins took first place in the Western Conference, and second overall in the AHL. They will enjoy home ice advantage for all but the finals, should they have a deep playoff run.
There are promising signs in the youth of the Red Wings organization. The veterans on the roster need a shake up. This summer could see several veterans retire or move on. It seems certain that major changes will be coming, one way or another.
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