For the second straight season, the Detroit Red Wings failed to eclipse 80 points, and ended up drafting Filip Zadina 6th overall. But, they didn\’t make too many changes, adding veterans, without losing any. Let\’s look at some fast facts for the Detroit Red Wings.
Head Coach: Jeff Blashill
General Manager: Ken Holland
Arena: Little Caesars Arena
AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins
2017-18 record: 30-39-13 (73 points)
2017-18 placement: 5th
Division: Atlantic
2017-18 goals leader: Anthony Mantha (24)
2017-18 assists leader: Dylan Larkin (47)
2017-18 points leader: Dylan Larkin (63)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Mike Green (33)
Captain: None
Assistant Captains: Justin Abdelkader, Niklas Kronwall
2018 first round pick: Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno
Offseason additions: Thomas Vanek, Jon Bernier, Harri Sateri.
Offseason subtractions: Henrik Zetterberg, Xavier Ouellet, David Booth.
Forwards: An injury forcing Henrik Zetterberg to retire will hurt them. Zadina will be placed in a top nine spot. Tyler Bertuzzi is an underrated player for the Wings. Andreas Athanasiou is one of the league\’s fastest skaters. Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha are a solid duo. Gustav Nyquist has lost some value, but is still a top nine winger.
Forward lines:
Gustav Nyquist – Dylan Larkin – Anthony Mantha
Tyler Bertuzzi – Andreas Athanasiou – Filip Zadina
Thomas Vanek – Frans Nielsen – Martin Frk
Justin Abdelkader – Luke Glendening – Darren Helm
Other: Evgeny Svechnikov
Injured: Johan Franzen
Defenseman: This is a real struggle for them. They should have picked Quinn Hughes, but they couldn\’t pass up Zadina. Still, they needed Hughes. Danny DeKeyser and Mike Green lead a deflated, aging core, with Trevor Daley, Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson. Dennis Cholowski and Filip Hronek are the future, and could get some playing time this year, but maybe not on opening night.
Defensive pairs:
Danny DeKeyser – Mike Green
Trevor Daley – Jonathan Ericsson
Niklas Kronwall – Nick Jensen
Other: Filip Hronek, Joe Hicketts.
Goalies: Jimmy Howard won out Petr Mrazek, as he was traded to Philly at the trade deadline. Howard could be traded, but for now is the starter. Jonathan Bernier was brought in as a backup, but a guy that might need to start. Harri Sateri has been a backup in Florida before, but is now the third goalie.
Goalie alignment:
Jimmy Howard
Jonathan Bernier
Other: Harri Sateri
Predictions:
Top five scorers:
Dylan Larkin
Anthony Mantha
Andreas Athanasiou
Gustav Nyquist
Tyler Bertuzzi
Playoffs: No
Division: 6th
CarterHud 