The Detroit Red Wings have had themselves a big 2023-24 campaign. Their red-hot start was one of note all across the league, coming out and showing that this Red Wings team is different. Then they sputtered a bit and returned to more of the Red Wings team than was expected.
But the Detroit Red Wings have competed. They have often gone out and successfully executed their game plan. Sure, there have been some slow starts, bad goaltending play, and big mistakes, but the positives have outweighed the negatives.
As the Red Wings continue with their season, I cannot help but start thinking about the possibility of the team making the playoffs. It would be something special to see Derek Lalonde take his squad into a postseason series.
Even a first-round exit would leave me happy, personally. Seeing Detroit back in the playoffs, fighting to make a run, is a big step for this team. It seems like they are ready to start knocking on the door and competing, and what better time than now?
The Detroit Red Wings are a contender in 2023-24.
Red Wings General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman has architected this rebuild. He has taken this team from nearly nothing to becoming a contender, or at least one that will compete night in and night out.
This Red Wings team is much different than one of recent years, whether we want to admit it or not. It’s been great to watch Lalonde come in and coach a team that will give it their all. With Dylan Larkin captaining things, the team is moving in the right direction, and Yzerman keeps making moves.
The signing of Patrick Kane helps this team try to contend even more than they already are. Kane has yet to make his debut, but it is expected soon, and he is expected to jump right into the top two lines for the Red Wings and start finding ways to make a difference.
For Detroit, the added offense will only help them, especially in a time of need, where Detroit needs to tap into the scoring they had shown in the beginning part of this season. Being that high-octane offense that they have shown at times will be their golden ticket to success.
Detroit may not have a playoff spot earmarked with their name, but the Red Wings can come out and prove that they can hang. The 2023-24 season is their chance to get over the hump on the rebuild, which would be a huge deal for this Red Wings team.