Detroit Red Wings
Are Red Wings in Serious Trouble?
Detroit five points out of a playoff spot
On the surface, you look at the Detroit Red Wings sitting five points out of a playoff spot at the 20-game juncture of the NHL season. In the grand scheme of things, making up that kind of ground should be an attainable mission.
Why is it then that deep down, there’s this gnawing sensation that it’s already becoming a hill too steep to climb? A gap too insurmountable to overcome?
First of all, it’s because through those first 20 games, this Red Wings team has shown us nothing to believe that consistency will ever be part of their DNA. They’ve delivered no compelling evidence that they can evolve into a club capable of putting together a positive run of games.
“I think we’ve had some good moments,” Detroit forward Lucas Raymond said.
He’s not wrong, but at the same time, he’s pointing out a serious concern. Moments are fleeting. Blink and they’re over.
Consistency A Red Wings Hobgoblin
The Red Wings did deliver one-three game winning streak this season. It was a stretch that allowed them to turn a 1-3 start into a 4-3 slate.
Since then? They are 4-7-2. Detroit has won back-to-back games just once during that 13-game span. All data suggests that this team is much more like the one that opened 1-3 and is currently 4-7-2 in the past 13 games than the squad that briefly went on a three-game roll.
“I don’t think it’s the start we would have wanted,” Raymond acknowledges. “But at the same time, I think we have played games where we play the way we’re supposed to, and we know we can be successful that way.”
Again, he’s right. On occasion, they can do it. Overall, they don’t do it nearly enough to believe it’s going to become a pattern.
“We’ve had some stretches of some very good hockey,” Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “It’s just finding it more often.”
Besides, three-game win streaks aren’t helping much in the long run if a team follows up by winning just four of the next 13 games.
Give It Away Now
Detroit is big on giveaways and no, we’re not talking about gravy boat Zambonis. In this instance, we’re discussing puck management . . . or more appropriately, puck mismanagement.
The Zamboni Gravy Boat returns… TODAY!
First 7,500 fans will get receive one, courtesy of @meijer. Doors open at 5:30pm!
See you there » https://t.co/meQ0gJUTgF pic.twitter.com/cySLK1rKU9
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 23, 2024
Through 20 games, the Red Wings have given away the puck 344 times. That’s works out to 17.2 giveaways per game, which is the most in the NHL.
In Saturday’s 2-1 home-ice loss to Boston, Detroit was turning over the puck 26 times. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was the worst culprit with six giveaways. Fellow rearguards Ben Chiarot and Erik Gustafsson were guilty of three giveaways apiece.
In the previous game, a 2-1 win over the Islanders, Detroit committed 23 giveaways. Gustafsson (three) was the worst offender.
For the season, Edvinsson and captain Dylan Larkin share the team lead with 29 giveaways. Gustafsson (27) is hot on their heels.
Penalty Kill Is Killing Red Wings
We’ve spent a lot of words so far this season discussing the woes of the Detroit penalty-killing unit. Speaking of their execution, the sense is that the team’s fan base would be in favor of it.
Our penalty kill is just awful. They really can’t catch a break 🤣
— Red Wings Diehards™ (@RedWingDiehards) November 19, 2024
Even against Boston’s NHL-worst power-play unit, Detroit managed to surrender one goal in two opportunities. And that was the difference on the scoreboard in another Red Wings loss.
They are giving up nearly a power-play goal per game with 18 against through 20 games. You don’t need a PhD in hockey analytics to be able to decipher that a team with a 66.7% penalty-kill rate is doomed to failure more often than not.
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Mediocrity is unsettling. But this is what they want… from the GM to the coach, which is passed onto the players.
Red Wings stink.
Worst D in the league and the PK is a joke.
A team with no identity.
They’re a flawed, spoiled and boring hockey team with horrible coaching and no leadership.
They’re outworked each game and they can’t win a face off to save their lives.
They never have the puck and it’s all individual.
Raymond and Larkin trying to stick handle through an entire team.
Whatever Losey and his clueless Generals are trying to teach isn’t working.
Until the Country Club of coddled crybabies ends this is what we’ll keep seeing.
I feel bad for the season ticket holders who are being ripped off each night they watch these lazy primadonnas.
Red Wings are the laughingstocks of the NHL.
I can’t even defend the GM anymore.
When failure is accepted then there’s no hope for improvement.
Hope is not a plan.
A toxic losing mentality is created.
Then you get lame excuses, finger pointing and celebrating moral victories.
But hey, we’ll get ’em next game!
Very true.
Can’t describe it better, except to add a bunch of one and done umich players that should have stayed in school.
I predicted the wings would take a step backwards this season, but I did not expect such a giant leap. But then again Yzerman’s signings have been pretty much a disaster. At least last year they were a fun team to watch. This brand of hockey is just painful to watch and it feels like they’ve regressed to the dark days.
That’s what bothers me the most.
I can handle the losing.
But at least put in a solid effort.
This team looks like they’ve tapped out and it’s not even December yet. 🙄
It’s going to be a LONG season Red Wings fans. 😬
Exactly.
The Wings are looking complacent. A bunch of different types of players playing differently. Not together. Not like the hive-minded, determined team we saw last season. That was then. Now both Yzerman and Lalonde are stuck with some contracts and skaters that can’t be moved on from and who are playing unmotivated Hockey. And it’s looking like it could go on all season like this. If there was ever a time for some of that Yzerman personnel magic, this is it. Add, subract or trade, something needs to happen.
.
It’s as if the Red Wings players, coaches, fans and media are waiting for something to happen.
But nothing is happening. 🤔
Maybe we need a Seinfeld reference?
“Wheels are in motion. Things are happening.” 🤭
Are the Red Wings in trouble? Yes I think so. 5 points away from a playoff spot, true. But if you are drowning in 100ft of water and you’re only 5ft down but wont swim, its only going to get worse. They’re losing too many and not winning often enough its that simple so its getting worse all the time. They are getting help from the rest of the division too and they still dont recognise the need to swim. I dont remember an Atlantic division so slow to get going. Thats why the Red Wings are still only 5 points out. They are getting help but they wont take the help. A drowning person who wont help themselves is a lost cause. Glug, glug, glug. Down we go.
It’s the number of teams the Red Wings have to beat out which worries me the most.
This Red Wings team has shown no evidence they’re capable of going on a winning streak.
It’s hard to gain any ground with so many 3 point games.
Yhea exactly. The most recent loss to the Bruins was the most damaging of the season so far. Up until that point, I’d have said the Wings were still in touch with the leading group – not looking good, but still in touch. After the loss to the Bruins I’d now say we’re out of touch and getting further out all the time. Losing to the Bruins really was a damaging blow to any hopes, and those hopes were slim to begin with. I think they’ve blown us right out of reach now. It’s weird to be thinking like this so early in the season but as you say, they have not shown they are capable of a winning streak and thats what it would take (and for other teams to lose at the same time) in order to get back into the fight. I’ve written this season off. Unless something dramatic happens this is a season you can safely write off. It’s ironic that the team that dealt us the most damaging blow so far was the first team to fire their coach.
Red Wings are just 2 points from being last overall. 😬
Then again, that’s exactly what they’ve shown. 🙄
The theme song for the Yzerplan is the old Dionne Warwick Song “Promises ,Promises” .
The Red Wings are a group of hockey players,not a team. I cannot decipher any personality or culture that can define who and what the Wings are .
The stirling reputation of Steve Yzerman is getting tarnished with this latest iteration on the ice.
And the fan’s patience is wearing thin.
If Yzerman was the GM of any other team he’d be fired by now.
He’s living off his legendary Red Wings player status.
As long as Mrs. Ilitch is still alive he’ll keep his job.
It’s an odd detail but I think they are missing David Perron. He brought so much energy and was part of the never give up run last season. Now it seems they roll over. I thought Larkin would be a better leader but he’s failing that aspect of captaincy.
Perron’s leadership is definitely missed.
Bring up Em Finnie.
For a second there I thought you said “Bring up Adam Erne.” 😬