The Detroit Red Wings need to extend their season into late April 2025 if they’re interested in progression and not stagnation. While there are many factors that would make up an ‘ultimate checklist’ to be successful in 2024-25, I wanted to focus on the three most important that will best set the stage for a playoff berth.
Average, everyday factors like “scoring more goals than the other team” or “staying healthy” are important but are also on every team’s checklist. So, what would make the Red Wings list unique from its 31 counterparts?
Finish in the top 15 in goals for and allowed
Last season, the Red Wings took ninth place in goals scored with 278, but they finished an embarrassing 24th in goals allowed. With red-hot scorers, the Wings can at least contend for the playoffs even with bad defense and goaltending, but a couple of cold streaks - which they also struggled through - could be nixed without allowing so many goals.
That said, if we can see a repeat of what the Wings did offensively last season while watching their defensive play step up, Detroit won’t be an easy team for anyone to beat. Also, staying healthy will be a big priority here - one long-term injury to a forward or one of their top two goaltenders could be catastrophic, even with a better overall on-ice product.
Get consistent goaltending
Finishing in the top 15 in goals allowed doesn’t mean goaltending will be consistent in 2024-25. If the Red Wings play well defensively and don’t allow so many shots on net, there’s a chance they would make the netminders look good. But if this team wants to maximize its playoff chances, they must get consistent play from most likely Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon.
Personally, I feel better about the goaltending with Talbot on board than I otherwise would have if Lyon paired with Ville Husso. But with Talbot in town, the arrow is pointing up that the Wings netminders will enjoy a solid campaign in 2024-25.
Make the playoffs
With such a long playoff drought, making a deep playoff run would be a bonus for the Red Wings this season, so simply making an appearance would be ideal. Should the Red Wings end up in the postseason, especially as a top-three or top-four team in the Atlantic, everyone’s jobs, from Steve Yzerman’s to Derek Lalonde’s, will be safe.
Missing the playoffs may result in a change, even if it would still be hard to see Yzerman continuing his executive career elsewhere. As for Lalonde, I wouldn’t put it past the Wings to find a potential replacement.