Detroit Red Wings Weekly Recap; Wrapping Up Week 20
Welcome to my 20th regular season Detroit Red Wings weekly review. The Red Wings played three games this week and posted a 2-1 record. The Red Wings lost 4-2 to the Seattle Kraken but got wins over the Washington Capitals 3-1 and the New York Rangers 4-1.
Detroit Red Wings are improving at the right time
Positives
The puck possession game has been strong as of late. Fewer turnovers and those resulting in offensive chances for the Detroit Red Wings. Big guys like Michael Rasmussen and Oskar Sundqvist use their big bodies to protect the puck, gaining more possession time and playing a gritty cycle game in the offensive zone. Puck possession was key in the wins against the Capitals and Rangers this past week.
Nobody knows what happened during the all-star weekend but captain Dylan Larkin brought back positive vibes from Sunrise, Florida. Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings have been playing their best hockey over the past couple of weeks. Their recent play now has them as the second wild-card team in the Eastern Conference, something nobody saw coming. The Red Wings are playing well, but everything is going right for them right now. The Red Wings are gaining points, while the teams around them in the standings are losing points.
Over the past week, the best point producer this week was center Pius Suter, who had three goals, including two in the 3-1 win against Washington. The Detroit Red Wings are getting contributions from everyone in the lineup at the right time.
Negatives
One has to wonder how the Red Wings will take this new attitude down the stretch. With the Detroit Red Wings winning on a consistent basis, will they continue to roll? We have to wonder if the Red Wings will be able to sustain this type of play considering most of them have not been in this position before. Will the Red Wings let the pressure get to them, or will they lock in that wild-card spot?
The situation with forward Jakub Vrana needs to be resolved. Vrana entered the NHL assistance program and was released after about a month. He then went to the Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, and performed well. He was then recalled to the Red Wings and played only one game. Vrana is far too talented to be in the AHL or sitting out games. If there is something we do not know about, then he needs to be traded. A 30-goal scorer in the NHL cannot be sitting when the Red Wings could use all the offense they can get.
The Detroit Red Wings may have some decisions to make, most notably general manager Steve Yzerman. This team is playing extremely well, the best they have in a long time. The Red Wings are in the playoffs as of right now. However, the trade deadline is coming up, and some of the more notable Red Wings, Larkin and Bertuzzi have been rumored in trades. Does he stand pat and continue with the hot squad he has now? Or does he send out pieces that he does not feel will be an asset to the team come playoff time? This next week will be crucial as Yzerman may see how the team performs before making any decisions that may cost them that final wild-card spot.
Weekly record: 2-1
Season record: 28-21-8