Hey, we know the Detroit Red Wings are a better hockey team than advertised these days, but it’s still too early to rank them in the top half of the NHL. Right now, I’m considering the Wings an average team overall heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off, and one that’s enjoyed a couple of decent stretches.
No, some fans may not want to hear that, but let’s look at the numbers. Checking out their basic goals for and goals against numbers, the Wings are 20th in the league in both categories, with 157 goals for and 171 against heading into the 4 Nations. Those aren’t numbers I would brag about, and considering their roller-coaster season, cautious optimism is needed.
But that didn’t stop Bleacher Report from clocking the Wings in at No. 14 previously and No. 15 in their most recent ranking. Yeah, a good stretch or two will inflate one’s power ranking, but heading into an extended break, I have some issues.
The Red Wings were down and out one too many times in 2024-25
I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve chastised the Red Wings this season, including in a recent post talking about a few critical statistics they still needed to turn around. Yeah, there are a few teams they deserved to pass up in any ranking, but I wouldn’t have put them ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who continue to pace the Wings in the standings.
But even those teams Detroit has passed up for a moment I’d be hesitant to rank below them. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames trail the Wings by a point in the Eastern Conference (Jackets) and league (Flames) standings, respectively. But they’ve been far more consistent than Detroit through most of the 2024-25 campaign.
Again, I know power rankings tend to judge teams more by the present, but taking into context we’re heading into an extended break is where I have an issue. Still, even if these were your average, every week power ranking, the Wings don’t belong ahead of the Senators just yet.
Where should the Wings rank heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off?
Overall, I would’ve put the Wings at No. 18, ahead of groups like the New York Rangers and Islanders, plus the Boston Bruins. They’ve played better hockey all season than each of the above teams. There’s also not a single team ranked above the Wings that I’d make a case for dropping a rung or two. Maybe, and it’s a big maybe, the Vancouver Canucks, who clocked in at No. 14.
At the end of the day, these rankings are subjective, so to each their own in this category. Still, let’s warrant cautious optimism, and agree that the Wings can be a Top 15 or even a Top 10 team if they return from the 4 Nations and embark on another hot streak. But until they fully prove they can be a consistent bunch, they’re toiling around the No. 18 mark in my book.