The Detroit Red Wings are not off to the start many of us hoped or expected they'd be, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand why. However, even a rocket scientist with minimal interest in hockey would quickly figure out what's been holding this team back.
Like any situation, it's not just one issue that's hampered the Red Wings this season; it's a multitude of things. First off, head coach Derek Lalonde has quickly worn out his welcome as he's paced this group, which entered the year with playoff aspirations to a 10-11-2 start in 2024-25. That's good for sixth in the Atlantic Division heading into Sunday afternoon's contest with the Vancouver Canucks. Detroit's goal differential is -12 on the season, also good for sixth in the division, only ahead of the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens.
Lalonde is in the final year of his three-year contract, and there has been speculation local and nationally that he may not make it to Christmas before general manager Steve Yzerman pulls the plug. There are plenty of candidates for the job, but as you know, Yzerman holds his cards close to the vest and never leaks any information, which makes it extremely hard to predict what he's planning to do. History shows he's been very loyal to his head coaches, and a change in the off-season is more likely than in-season, but if he feels like many of us do, that this group is vastly underachieving an in-season change, a new lead voice on the bench will be very beneficial to this organization. My gut feeling suggests that if a change were made mid-season, it would be of the interim variety in the form of Alex Tanguay.
Although Tanguay doesn't have any head coaching experience, he seems like the better choice for running the bench at the moment. He has complete control over Detroit's power play, which is currently operating at a robust 27.9% success rate, good for fourth best in the league. Bob Boughner would be the other likely choice, and despite having head coaching experience, his penalty kill unit is a league-worst 66,2%. On Friday, the Red Wings yielded three power play goals to New Jersey on four chances en route to a 5-4 loss.
Despite having a great power play, the Detroit Red Wings are not generating enough offense during five-on-five play. They rank second-worst in the league, averaging a mere 24.87 shots on goal per game with a team shooting percentage of just 10.3%, ranking them 19th in that category. When Detroit finds themselves with a lead, particularly in the third period, you will see the team suddenly play in more of a shell, trying to protect the lead rather than push and try to create more offense. That method in today's NHL is unsustainable, and the proof is in the pudding. That's on the head coach. The Red Wings would benefit from continuing to push for more offense with a lead but not take any additional offensive zone risks, such as an ill-advised pinch from a defenseman; I am talking to you, Ben Chiarot.
Injuries continue to hamper the Detroit Red Wings
With how tight things are in the Atlantic Division, Detroit is three points out of last place and just five points from the final Wild Card position. The Red Wings need all hands on deck during this vital stretch.
Although his point production hasn't been where we'd like to see it, forward Patrick Kane remains vital to Detroit's success. Kane, 36, is set to miss his fourth straight game on Sunday, nursing an upper-body injury. His status is day-to-day meaning this isn't a long-term issue, and there is a chance he returns to the lineup on Tuesday in Boston. Kane has produced just three goals and ten points through 20 games this season. Over his last nine games, he's scored just one goal and recorded two points; not good enough. Overall, Kane's 0.50 points per game place him fifth on the Red Wings.
Kane's absence has left a gaping hole in Detroit's lineup. You'd think this would be an optimal chance for a young player like Jonatan Berggren to step in and see second-line minutes playing with a skilled offensive threat such as Alex DeBrincat. Still, instead, Lalonde continues to use grinder and penalty kill specialist Tyler Motte. Even writing that feels so wrong. Not only has Lalonde removed Marco Kasper from the second line in favor of J.T. Compher, but he's rolling with a grinder with minimal scoring upside on the second-line wing over a player like Berggren who appears to have gained his confidence back, which he'd lacked in the past at the NHL level in his previous stints. Berggren led the Griffins last season with 56 points. He's off to a slow start this year, having only recorded three goals and four points in 23 games, but when you watch the tape, he's creating scoring opportunities for himself and his linemates despite being snakebitten. He gives that second line a better chance to develop much-needed offense than Motte, yet stubborn Lalonde continues to deploy what he feels is the safer, more defensive player.
Also injured is backup goalie Alex Lyon. Lyon has battled injuries in the early going this season and finds himself on the shelf once again. It's an undisclosed injury that doesn't appear to be a long-term thing, but Lyon is not expected to make Detroit's upcoming two-game road trip to Boston and Ottawa. Ville Husso will continue to serve as Cam Talbot's backup.