On the surface, it doesn't make sense why the Detroit Red Wings are on the verge of missing the playoffs for a ninth straight season.
There are several former Stanley Cup champions, rising stars, and an otherwise solid group of offensive core players. So, where's the disconnect? It's a one-dimensional team.
Scoring goals isn't an issue, but when they aren't putting pucks in the back of the net, they generally allow them in. It's like a fighter who's efficient at punching you in the face but takes a lot of damage in return. Those types of fighters generally have short careers.
And that's where the Red Wings sit right now. They still have enough resilience to stay alive but are one slip up away from being knocked out for the count. It's an uncomfortable position to be in, and while we want to be uplifting, the reality is that the Wings are likely to come up short in this battle.
While Dylan Larkin's play has languished, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat have stepped up. Raymond's 75 points not only lead the team, but it's also a career-high for him, as well as his 49 assists. While DeBrincat did post better numbers in some seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, he is still projected to end the season with more goals and points than last season.
Red Wings Desperately Need Penalty Kill Help
Detroit has the fourth-best power play in the NHL and is ranked last on the penalty kill (PK) with a 69.54% success rate. From my perspective, the Wings don't have the aggression or the fire on the PK. They have that same enthusiasm when the tables are turned, but that's the problem. Last season, the worst PK belonged to the New York Islanders at roughly 71%. Detroit is projected to be worse than that.
There's a disconnect on whether to be aggressive or passive. Well, think of it this way. You know the other team is going to be aggressive. You're either going to fight fire with fire, or you're going to get burned. You might get torched either way, but you are guaranteed defeat by remaining on the passive side of strategy.
Get Physical
The Wings need some guys willing to put their bodies on the line. Be more physical on face-offs and entries, willing to battle along the boards, etc. The winning solution may not be there with the current group of guys, but possibly in free agency.
Detroit should take a keen interest in a player like Sam Bennett. The fourth-overall pick has a Stanley Cup to his résumé, but he's also scrappy. He's that rare middle-six centre that can shoot, defend, and destroy another player when he has to. The Wings badly need that type of energy and fire back on their roster. Furthermore, he won't have a massive impact on the salary cap.
Another player who can also do just that is Vancouver's Brock Boeser. Imagine if Detroit could get a guy that can put up 40 goals in a season but also can use his physicality to open up opportunities for his teammates. Yes, he does tend to take bad penalties from time to time, but the Wings should gladly take that over a player who isn't willing to get in the trenches and fight for puck possession in key moments.
Drafting will also be key and we should expect Steve Yzerman to consider going after an offensive defenseman or two. If they are able to get their hands on either Jackson Smith or Lynden Lakovic, that could pay dividends down the line.
It's going to take some old-school chauvinism to get this Wings team back to its competitive ways again. The bright spot for these guys is that they have a hot group of youngsters. Don't let that go to waste.
Honorable Mention
Cam Talbot has kept this team alive with solid play as of late. Although he's gone through waves of adversity this season, the 37-year-old has been outstanding since the Four Nations break.