Detroit Red Wings Not Built For Deep Playoff Run in 2015-16
Currently sitting in 8th place in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Red Wings are 32-23-11 with 75 points. They occupy the second Wild-Card spot with both Philadelphia, Carolina, and Ottawa nipping at their heels.
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There are no shortage of storylines for the Detroit Red Wings in 2015-16 – both positive, and negative.
New bench boss Jeff Blashill stepped in to replace long-time head coach Mike Babcock. A new goaltender would open the season as starter. 19-year-old Dylan Larkin emerged into one of the NHL’s top rookies. Tomas Jurco struggled, and saw a short AHL demotion. Pavel Datsyuk missed the beginning of the year. Jimmy Howard started strong, only to struggle ever since. Emerging players, under-performing veterans, there is an abundance of stories to go around.
The Detroit Red Wings can thank two important factors for their success:
First thing you need to win a Stanley Cup, is a great goaltender. The Detroit Red Wings have that in Petr Mrazek. He collected 16 wins down the stretch in 2014-15, posting a 2.38GAA and .918 save percentage, with three shutouts. He started seven of eight games in the playoffs, collecting three wins, with a 2.11GAA and .925 save percentage, and two shutouts.
In 2015-16, Mrazek has 24 wins, posting a 2.21GAA and .924 save percentage, including four shutouts. This in comparison to his counterpart Jimmy Howard, who has eight wins, and a 2.82GAA and .907 save percentage.
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Forward Group
It’s hard to complain about their top six. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are models of consistency year-after-year. Justin Abdelkader is establishing himself as a true top six forward. Dylan Larkin is showing unbelievable ability to play a 200-foot game as a teenager. Gustav Nyquist possesses an incredible offensive skill-set, while Tomas Tatar continues to develop his game, showing his offensive abilities.
Lines are juggled now-and-then, with Riley Sheahan seeing some time in the top six, along with Brad Richards closer to the beginning of the year. The top nine in Detroit competes with the NHL’s best. There is something left to be desired with that fourth line in 2015-16. The late call-up of Andreas Athanasiou has helped to address the holes in their bottom six.
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Detroit Red Wings Achilles Heel – Defense Core
One would have thought the Detroit Red Wings Scouting Department would do a better job drafting blueliners. Give them credit, they have hit numerous home runs with forwards. They’ve done so well that even Anthony Mantha is still simmering down in Grand Rapids.
At the same time, they missed a fair share of swings at defensive prospects. Sure, Brendan Smith and Jonathan Ericsson are full-time NHLers, but they never managed to reach their true potential.
A gaping void was left when Nicklas Lidstrom retired. Hopes were that Niklas Kronwall could step up and help fill that hole. To his credit, Kronwall has done everything he can to replace Lidstrom. It was the Red Wings responsibility to build a better all-around defensive group.
Instead, they continue to feature the same type of mediocrity that could be hidden behind one of the NHL’s best All-Time Defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom.
Why The Detroit Red Wings Will Struggle in the Playoffs (if they make it)
Transition Game in the Neutral Zone
One thing that made Detroit such an effective team for so many years was their transition game in the neutral zone. No team in the NHL could compare with their ability to turn a puck over, and head the other way on odd-man rushes. Whether it was a back-checking forward, or defenseman stepping up, the Detroit Red Wings always seemed to find a way to force opponents to make mistakes and capitalize on those opportunities.
A few factors may be to blame. First, a new coach brings forth a new system, with different structure. Second, the NHL is continually getting younger, with lots of new faces in Detroit. It takes time and NHL experience to learn the smaller details. Lastly, this defensive group is simply not talented/experienced enough.
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Breakout/First Pass
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Under Mike Babcock, the Detroit Red Wings had the ability to break out of their zone with ease. Bodies were open to make that first pass, and support was always nearby to take that next pass, or pick the puck up off the boards.
Fast forward to 2015-16, whether a player is shooting it blindly around the boards, or passing it to a player in close company with an opponent, bad decisions seem to be a common theme for Detroit Red Wings d-men. It leads to extra time spent in the defensive zone, which ultimately leads to less puck possession.
The one thing that made so many Detroit teams great in recent history was their ability to trap teams in their own defensive zone – forcing an opponent on their heels for the majority of the game.
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Unfortunately 2015-16 is a lesson in role reversal. The Detroit Red Wings continue to spend an inordinate amount of time in their own end. This is a theme that needs to change down the stretch if Detroit has any hope of escaping the first round in April.