Detroit Red Wings’ fans have reasons to remain positive as the regular season closes

Whenever there’s an elephant in the room, one’s supposed to address it. 

The Detroit Red Wings played well, for the most part, against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. However, they couldn’t buy a goal.

Their upcoming games aren’t going to be much easier. 

Even an “easy” team in the Montreal Canadiens will pose a challenge as we remember back to the spoiler role the Detroit Red Wings played over the last few years. Fans and players alike live for those games.

As the regular season comes to a close, the Detroit Red Wings’ fans have a few positives to look forward to regardless of scores.

Here, we will take a look at just a few positives, but there are endless. Let me know what you look most forward to as we close out the regular season.

A Defenseman

Witnessing a new defenseman flourish in the Detroit Red Wings’ lineup is always exciting. Before Moritz Seider, we had Filip Hronek fighting tooth and nail for a regular spot in the lineup. This generation has one of the most talented prospects in it. 

Much like Detroit Red Wings’ coach, Derek Lalonde, I don’t think Simon Edvinsson knows just how good he will be. 

His mix of size, hands, reach, coordination, balance, and excellent skating (just to name a few that come to mind immediately) combine to a level hitherto undreamt of, to borrow from Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Doctor Strange. 

To see his ice time creep up, albeit much slower than I’d like, I’m happy he is getting a real opportunity with the stingy Detroit Red Wings coaching staff. Edvinsson’s taking full advantage of his opportunity. While I hope he’s back someday for the Grand Rapids Griffins’ playoff run, it will likely be his last stint if it happens.

In the meantime, I reckon he has earned more than a few extra shifts and maybe a heavy workload over the next few games. Possibly a few more defensive-zone starts with a different partner. I’m sure Edvinsson could handle a few defensive-zone starts with ease.

With the Grand Rapids Griffins, Edvinsson played some right-side defense and it might be worth trying if the Detroit Red Wings’ coaching staff isn’t keen on giving Edvinsson ice time with Shayne Gostisbehere or Moritz Seider. (Honestly, Edvinsson may not be bad with either, but Edvinsson’s partner has to be good at communicating with him–he’s high maintenance but so worth it.)

Really reaching for the stars here, but I think the Detroit Red Wings don’t have much to lose trying Edvinsson on a power play unit (if more than one unit ever gets a real shot on the ice, as I presume he doesn’t overtake Shayne Gostisbehere’s spot for some unknown reason).  Much like a shake up to the top-six forward group could breathe new life into the Detroit Red Wings, changing up the power play may help too.

Edvinsson’s unreal at keeping pucks in the offensive zone, making plays, entering the zone, and getting shots through. These things are all important aspects of running a power play that could serve the Detroit Red Wings well over the next few games and onwards.