The Detroit Red Wings commence their quest to return to the Stanley Cup Finals this evening
IT'S T-SHIRT TIME!!!
Fortunately, the lengthy 82-game NHL regular season allows for all teams to make adjustments over the course of the journey. So perhaps it truly won't be "T-Shirt Time" until mid-April when the playoffs begin.
Nevertheless, after a daunting campaign last season in Detroit where the Red Wings needed a strong kick in the final month to propel them into the playoffs, the time is now for this hockey club to mold into a championship team.
Although my previous blog may have come off as a prediction that the Red Wings will not live up to many expert opinions which have Detroit returning to the Stanley Cup Final, nothing could be further from the truth.
Like all hockey teams, Detroit is not exempt from having weaknesses. However, this team is still a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. There are numerous reasons why the Red Wings will win the Central Division during the regular season. Here are the three biggest:
1) Jimmy Howard will not suffer from a "sophmore slump"
Given the recent struggles of productive rookie goalies, namely Steve Mason of the Columbus Bluejackets, along with Howard's unspectacular playoff performance, people are questioning whether the 26-year old will be able to handle the full load for the entire season. It's a different animal this time around.
Last season, Chris Osgood was expected to hold down the fort and the hope was that Howard would play 25 games to get his feet wet in the NHL.
This season, the expectation is the opposite. Howard expected to play the majority of the games and Osgood likely to play 25-30 games to keep Howard fresh for what all hope is a lengthier playoff run than this past spring.
Whereas Mason and some other victims were expected to lead their teams following their rookie success, the sentiment remains that Howard merely has to be good for this Red Wing team to prosper. Barring injuries, he won't have to bail this team out this upcoming season like he did during the middle of the regular season.
In addition, Howard might be in his 2nd full NHL season, but he's also entering his 6th season as a pro. He already had his "sophmore slump" in the AHL. After a fantastic rookie season in Grand Rapids, Howard struggled the following year as a 22-year old second year pro.
You can be sure that Howard has been working his tail off this summer to ensure he is prepared this time around to not let history repeat itself.
2) The return of a productive 3rd line
With the return of Jiri Hudler and a healthy Daniel Cleary back, the Red Wings can expect much better offensive production from their 3rd line, something they enjoyed during the 2007-08 regular season. Add a motivated and reinvigorated Mike Modano to man the middle of this line, and I do not think it is irrational for the Red Wings to not expect 50 goals from this trio.
It's this dynamic that I think is as important or more vital than seeing Zetterberg and Datsyuk return to their offensive form of past seasons and a healthy Johan Franzen. The Red Wings have always been known as a hockey team that were most dangerous when they received offensive contributions from their 3rd line.
I think that happens this season.
3) The fire is back
Sometimes as badly as you want something, you just don't have anything left to give. In the postseason last year, Detroit looked like a team that wanted it, but just couldn't give more.
After 4 months to rest, recharge and refocus after 3 consecutive seasons of lengthy playoff runs into late May or mid June, the Red Wings appear determined to knock off all challengers in the West to return to the Stanley Cup Final.
Throw in the fact the entire dressing room is well aware this could very well be the Captain's final "tour of duty" should only strengthen their resolve. The coaching staff seems intent on keeping minutes in check and utilizing their roster depth over the course of the 82-game grind in order to ensure their top horses have plenty of kick left for the two-month stretch drive in April-June.
So what is MY Stanley Cup prediction for this spring?
The Red Wings will return to the Stanley Cup Final in my opinion.
Where they will lose to the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion, Washington Capitals.
Looking to tonight's matchup vs. the Ducks, Anaheim is a team in transition on the blueline with the retirement of Scott Niedermayer. Highly touted prospects Luca Sbisa and Cam Fowler are expected to patrol the blueline this evening. Up front, the Ducks have a dangerous pair of lines led by the Ryan Getzlaf-Corey Perry-Bobby Ryan trio which is likely the top line in the NHL.
Undoubtedly, Jonas Hiller will be called upon to have a strong performance in goal for the Ducks if Anaheim is hopeful to come away with two points in their season opener.
Todd Bertuzzi (back) did take the morning skate and is expected to play in tonight's opener. Justin Abdelkader (ribs) and Kris Draper (groin) remain out of the lineup.
Don't be surprised if Osgood starts Saturday in Chicago against the Blackhawks. Babcock may try to split up the playing time a bit more evenly -- at least early on this season -- after leaning very heavily on Howard down the stretch in 2009-10.
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