Which Detroit team can win a Championship in 2017?
The Detroit Red Wings, Pistons and Lions are all prepping for a new season. So are the Wolverines and Spartans. All three professional teams are considered young and improving, but do any of them have a shot at winning a championship in the upcoming year? If so, which one has the best odds?
First up, the Red Wings.
Can the Red Wings shock the NHL world with a Stanley Cup run in 2016? It sure would be a great way to close Joe Louis Arena in style. The NHL season is a long grind, but one constant remains the same – a hot goalie can sometimes single handedly lead a team to a championship.
The Wings will go as far as Petr Mrazek can take them. The young Czech goaltender has shown absolute signs of becoming one of the best in the game today, however he needs to be a bit more consistent. Mrazek, along with rising stars Dylan Larkin, Justin Abdelkader and Tomas Tatar will all have to have spectacular seasons to make a run at the cup.
Jeff Blashill should feel a bit more comfortable this year as he will be entering his second season as the head coach in Detroit.
Of the three major sports starting up in Motown this Fall, the Wings look to be the longest shot on the odds board in Detroit to claim a title in 2017.
They are the number three out of three at 15/1.
Detroit Lions
Deep breath. Matt Stafford, Golden Tate, Anquan Boldin, Marvin Jones….all players any team would want, right? Add the quickly improving Ezekiel Ansah at DE, and big names players aren’t the problem in Detroit – winning games is. With the Vikings quickly improving, and Aaron Rodgers still leading the Pack, it won’t be easy in 2016 for the Leo’s.
New GM Bob Quinn has injected enthusiasm and optimism into the Lions even before they hit the field this season. However, 2016 may be a make or break season for head coach Jim Caldwell. Last year the Lions started the season 0-5, and a dismal 1-7 before their bye week. Just when many fans thought the season was lost, Detroit went 6-2 down the stretch and were actually a play or two from flirting with a 8-0 finish and a possible Wild Card berth.
They can’t start the season 0-5 in 2016 or as the old expression goes, “heads are gonna roll!” Missing the postseason for a second straight season could result in the Lions searching for a new front man.
The Lions culture has been negative for too long, so here is something positive to hang your hats on. Every year a team or two in the NFC surprises everyone. In fact outside of the Seattle Seahawks recent success, no team has gone to the Super Bowl two years in a row from the NFC since the 1996-97 Packers.
Last season the Carolina Panthers were listed at 40-1 to win the Super Bowl in September and we know how well they did. Are the Lions the surprise team of 2016? Time will tell.
The Lions are number two of three at 12/1.
Detroit Pistons
Like the Wings, the Pistons have the young talent to shock many teams this fall. Adding Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije in the 2016 NBA Draft to an already strong squad that features Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, the Pistons could and should make some noise in the East in 2016.
It’s may be a bold prediction, but it the Pistons stay healthy, they could be the team to beat in the East this season. Well the team to beat besides the Cavaliers.
They may be a bit green, but of all the major sports going on in Detroit this fall/winter, the Pistons may have the best shot at hitting the promised land based on the NBA playoff format and comparable competition to the other two major sports.
Just like what is going on now between the Tigers and Indians in the AL Central, the NBA’s Eastern Conference could come down to the Pistons and Cavs.
Of course, every big prediction involves chance, the possibilities of injuries, etc. However on paper at least, it seems the Pistons have the best shot at bringing a title back to Detroit this season.