With four injured players, the Detroit Red Wings season has hit a wall. Wins are virtually nonexistent. With only Darren Helm close to returning a tough December can’t end soon enough.
Danny DeKeyser, Anthony Mantha, Darren Helm and Mike Green have missed significant time due to injuries, proving too costly for the Detroit Red Wings to overcome.
Having just one win since December 10. Depth has been tested and failed. The player who I think absence has hurt the most is defensemen Mike Green. With only 23 games played he lead Red Wings defensive players with 16 points. To not have his .70 points per game has taken the life out of the Wings.
Green is expected back in about three weeks with some luck. Danny DeKeyser who was playing some good hockey before a broken hand sidelined him is not due back until after the All-Star break January 23.
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Forward Anthony Mantha, whose injury has put pressure on Dylan Larkin (who has still performed well) could possibly be back in two weeks. After missing almost a complete month Mantha is still tied for third in goals with nine. This will help the offense out once Mantha gets back up to speed and shakes the rust from time lost.
That is how it is going for the Red Wings in December. Two key defensive players out and teams are scoring pretty much at will. While no one has stepped up to support Larkin in the offensive end, leading to Mantha breaking his hand, having surgery and still third or tied for third in goals.
The silver lining if there is one. Cap space is coming. So that will hopefully lead to not only more depth. But quality depth. I am not talking about Filip Zadina who may not even be ready next season. He may need more time in Grand Rapids, but NHL veterans who can chip in and contribute.
The entire Detroit Red Wings hockey team is in a funk in the toughest month of their season. The hockey gods have been unkind, and so has the lack of cap space to make to proper improvements. This is not to make excuses; it is a reality.
That should change for the better this offseason. Jeff Blashill has tried different lines to try to jump-start something. To no avail. The only thing the team can do is continue to grind and try to compete no matter how difficult the task.