Recently, I asked whether the Red Wings were finally living up to preseason expectations, but I can’t help but scoff and shake my head at my own short-sightedness. It seems like every time I get a little confident in this team, they pile on the reasons why I was fooling myself, and it happened again recently.
Overall, the Wings have lost four of their last five, and having been outscored 2 to 1 (in simplest terms) over their previous two games (10 to 5 in reality), it makes you wonder whether the clock is now ticking before this season is an absolute waste.
But that’s not a burning question I’m asking just yet: Let’s wait until Thanksgiving, and I’ll give you an answer then. That said, there are plenty of storylines between then and now that will keep you interested in this disappointing team.
Is anybody going to step up and score?
About nine days ago, I asked a similar question and wrote an entire article on it. The reason I’m asking it again is that I’m sure just about every Red Wings fan has the same inquiry, albeit in their own way.
Last season, Patrick Kane looked like he was good to go for at least another year, and he’s since reverted into playing like a regressing athlete in career twilight. Vladimir Tarasenko was supposed to help, and he has just two goals and six points in 16 games.
At this point, watching the Wings try to score is one of the most migraine-inducing ways to spend three hours of your day. That will continue until someone, anyone, decides they want to be a hero this year.
One-sided special teams are hurting the Wings
At a 29.79 conversion rate, you can’t argue that the Red Wings power play is arguably the NHL’s best. The problem, however, is that they can’t play at 5-on-4 all day, hence their despicable scoring efforts at even strength.
What’s not helping them is their equally despicable efforts at 4-on-5, as the Wings penalty kill is a shade under 66 percent. Over a quarter of their goals, and nearly one-third of their goals, allowed have come when the other team is on the man advantage, and it makes things that much tougher for the Wings when they do have the puck.
What’s it going to take to salvage the season?
Let’s face it: While I said I’ll have an answer around Thanksgiving before I predict whether this season is a throwaway one, I’ll at least say that it’ll be so sooner rather than later if this poor play continues. This team is 7-9-1, and they seem to be getting worse, so what’s general manager Steve Yzerman’s plan?
A big trade? He’s done those before. A coaching change? It might be necessary. Both? If it means saving the season, or at least trying to, would a single fan be against it? Right now, something needs to be done, especially if the Wings fall to the lowly San Jose Sharks, or else I might just say the season will be over by Thanksgiving Day, and you can turn your attention to a team that actually knows a thing or two about winning: the Detroit Lions.