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Detroit Red Wings: Spreading some Holiday Cheer

By Bob Heyrman

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 23: Michael Rasmussen #27 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his goal with teammates Niklas Kronwall #55, Nick Jensen #3, Dylan Larkin #71 and Gustav Nyquist #14 during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on December 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 23: Michael Rasmussen #27 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his goal with teammates Niklas Kronwall #55, Nick Jensen #3, Dylan Larkin #71 and Gustav Nyquist #14 during the first period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on December 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Though to many teams Green would be a fourth or fifth defender he has impacted the Wings in a positive way this season playing as their top defender.  During his 23 games played he’s been a guy that anchors the teams top power-play, yes they’ve struggled down the stretch.

He’s also averaged 22 minutes a night, that’s a pretty high number for a guy who doesn’t play on the penalty kill.  Remember, the Wings started the season 0-7-2 with Grenner sidelined with a liver issue.

The Wings have a record of 13-8-2 with Green in the lineup, and he is a surprisingly plus 10 this season.  He’s been able to record 16 points although only scoring 3 times.  He has been better than many people expected or shall I say better than most will give him credit for.

Many folks were skeptical when Ken Holland decided to bring Mike Green back to the Detroit Red Wings, yet he has been the most consistent defender on the team.  It wasn’t as though Holland gave him a lifetime type contract as he signed so many players to in the past.  A two-year deal worth just over 5 million per season.

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Next season or quite possibly this season Mike Green may be involved in trade talks.  The veteran defender will be a desirable right-handed power-play specialist for a contending team down the stretch.  Like we previously mentioned on a good team he will likely be a third pairing defender playing 17 minutes.  I think he would thrive at this point in his career playing fewer minutes, limiting his defensive zone mistakes.

On Detroit, they need him to play the big minutes because we simply don’t have anyone else.  If Holland decided not to move Green until late in the year next season, it wouldn’t be the worse thing in the world.

I would like to see the young defenders like Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski learn from the likes of Green, especially on the power-play. Hronek is the up and comer expected to replace Green’s role in the future, being that offensive right handed shot on the power-play.

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