The first 19 games for the Detroit Red Wings has been a rollercoaster ride full of ups and downs.
Good and bad.
Beautiful and ugly.
Consistency isn’t a word I’d confidently tag on this roster. Instead, they look more like a young team in transition.
The general consensus from casual hockey fans is that the Wings are old and their window has closed, but those opinions likely come from those who aren’t familiar with this roster. In reality, there’s a new window starting to open. It doesn’t take more than five minutes to realize the Red Wings aren’t who they used to be, and that may not be a bad thing.
Truly, this is a team in transition mode. They have new players, a new head coach and a new core getting ready to take the reins in the locker room.
A shift like this can take time, and growing pains are all but guaranteed. The idea that this change can take place without moments of disappointment is utter nonsense. Detroit fans—especially my generation that’s seen nothing but playoff appearances—have been spoiled with success. Year after year, the discussion isn’t about making the playoffs. Instead, it’s whether or not they can win the Stanley Cup. Take a second and think about it.
For the last 24 years, Red Wings fans have focused this team’s ability to win the Stanley Cup.
Face it, we’re all spoiled little brats who throw a fit when things don’t go our way, even about the smallest things. And that’s what I’ve witnessed in the first 19 games of the season.
It’s been an onslaught of negativity since the Wings lost six of seven games after starting 3-0-0. Fans—myself included—are overreacting. We’re throwing a tantrum fit for toddlers in diapers.
Enough About Jeff Blashill
Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
How can this fan base question the promotion of Jeff Blashill after having unwavering confidence that he was not just the right candidate, but the only candidate? Weren’t we the ones proclaiming that losing Babcock may have actually been a good thing after the Wings won their first three?
Now, we’re not so sure about him? Come on, folks. It’s been 19 games and our support for the new bench boss is crumbling. As a fan base, where’s our backbone?
Shoot! Why won’t they shoot?!
The largest criticism of this team’s play has been their ability to get pucks to the net. Truly, this has been a major concern. They are averaging just 25.9 shots per game, which happens to be 29th in the league. To say the least, it hasn’t been good.
However, why is that the statistic that people are clinging to? When I see fans upset at shot totals five minutes into a game, it makes me want to rip the hair out of my scalp. All of a sudden the shot count is what we’re basing success on? Please.
Take a look at shot attempts. The Red Wings have won the shot attempts battle each of the last six games. Ultimately, isn’t that the number we should be considering? Those pucks will start getting to the net, and hopefully finding the back of the net. It’s a positive trend for the Wings, but the focus remains on the negative.
Shooting isn’t the problem. Getting the pucks on net is.
Patience, people. Patience.
It’s not going to be a season where the Red Wings cruise to another playoff berth, or at least it doesn’t look that way at this point. They’ll have to battle. They’ll face adversity. There will be a handful of painful nights.
Of course, there are plenty of other pain points for the Red Wings—lack of offense from defensemen, defensive zone coverage or the hatred towards Luke Glendening.
But as a fan base, we have to be patient with the transition process. Every night can’t be an overreaction one way or another. Of course, I’m not saying we outlaw any negative opinion about the team, but the overreactions have to stop.
As a fan base, we must come to grips with the fact that the Red Wings aren’t the team they were five or six years ago. But that doesn’t mean the house is burning down, either. There’s hope—lots of it. Take a look at Toronto. It could always be worse.
Leave the tantrums behind and have some faith in the process. Be patient with the new coach and the young players on this roster. Hell, if you find yourself pissed off and frustrated with this team, just watch a few Dylan Larkin highlights. That should cheer you up.
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Enjoy the ride, because when this team finds it’s groove and makes it 25 straight playoff appearances, it’ll be a rewarding kind of awesome.
Plus, you’ll be able to say you believed in them all along.