The Detroit Red Wings need a hero.
With just nine games left on the schedule, the Red Wings are barely staying afloat in the Eastern Conference. They're a point removed from the last spot in the Wild Card. After a tragic loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night, the need for a player to step up is more dire than ever.
There are heroes on this roster. Players that can put the team on their back and take over games. Now, more than ever, the Red Wings will be relying heavily on these four players to show they've got what it takes.
This is a chance for seasoned vets and up-and-coming rookies to make a name for themselves.
Alex DeBrincat's heroics lead the team in scoring
No player has made a bigger difference for Detroit on the scoresheet than Alex DeBrincat this season. DeBrincat leads all Red Wings in goals and points with a seven point lead over the next best player (Lucas Raymond).
Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|
37 | 41 | 78 |
He's just three goals away from hitting the 40-goal marker, a feat he's achieved twice in his career. The last player to score 40 goals in a season for the Red Wings was Marian Hossa during the 2008-09 season. Detroit has been on the hunt for a pure goal-scorer for well over a decade. DeBrincat has more than filled that role. He'll be relied upon heavily in the coming weeks.
Emmitt Finnie brings wild card factor to the lineup
Emmitt Finnie is one of the best surprises of the season. The seventh-round pick played his way up and down the lineup this season, playing in all 73 games thus far. While he's struggled at times to produce on the scoresheet, he's shown he's got what it takes at the NHL level to contribute.
Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|
12 | 15 | 27 |
Once Finnie adds some more muscle to his frame, he'll be a force in the NHL. His tenacity, coupled with his versatility, make him an ideal fit in just about any lineup in the league. Should the Red Wings make it to the playoffs, Finnie's voracious play style will be a boon for the team. If the flashy forward can find his scoring touch, the team will need all the help they can get from him.
Moritz Seider's Norris-caliber stability
Seider is time and time again heralded as the best player on the roster. It's no surprise that the Red Wings rely heavily on him to stabilize the blue line. Even national media pundits praise Seider for his consistency and reliability. He's even recieved Norris Trophy nods from around the league.
ATOI | Hits | Defensive Zone Starts |
|---|---|---|
25:43/game | 109 | 37.6% |
There are few players tasked with the workload Seider undertakes. Even fewer can do it at at Seider's level. This season has more than shown that Seider is a top-five defenseman in the NHL. Some may even rank him higher if they account for defensive acumen over points. If the Red Wings need stability, they'll count on Seider above anyone else on the roster.
Dylan Larkin brings x-factor to Red Wings
No player is more valuable to the Red Wings than Dylan Larkin. Year in and year out, the team flounders without him in the lineup. The team relies on him for everything from faceoffs to defensive shifts to key goals late in the third period. He's one of the fastest, most effective players in the league.
Game Winning Goals | Offensive Zone Starts | Miles Skated/Game |
|---|---|---|
8 (4th in NHL) | 42.8% (top-50 in NHL) | 4.04 (94th percentile) |
Despite a litany of setbacks this season, Larkin is pushing himself harder than ever before to make the playoffs. Whether or not they accomplish it will entirely depend on his work on and off the ice. As the team's leader, nobody on the Red Wings is pressued harder to succeed than Larkin. How the rest of the season goes rests on his shoulders.
If Larkin wants to cement himself as a Hockeytown hero, it's time for him to step up to the plate.