The Detroit Red Wings are done the first month of the season with a much-better-than-anticipated result. The Wings sit atop the Atlantic Division, tied with the Montreal Canadiens with 18 points. They are four points clear for the third-place logjam, and five points ahead of the three teams tied for the bottom spots.
Everything seems to be going well for the Red Wings. Of course, nothing is perfect. But on the whole, the club is coming along well.
The solid start has not gone unnoticed. USA Today published its latest NHL power rankings on November 3, and the Red Wings cracked the top 10. That should only surprise folks who haven’t seen the team play.
But as the USA Today piece noted, there’s a key reason why the Red Wings are climbing up the ladder.
Here’s what USA Today had to say about the rationale behind the Red Wings' placement:
“The YzerPlan seems to be working this season. General manager Steve Yzerman has brought in many pieces over the seasons, but the key is that captain Dylan Larkin is on pace for his best season.”
Larkin leads the team with eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 13 games. He’s not only been a force offensively, but he’s also been all over the ice. He’s grown into the two-way forward that only comes around every so often in a generation.
Larkin has been able to make things happen with his speed and skill. But it hasn’t been totally up to Larkin. The Red Wings captain has gotten support that we haven’t seen in previous seasons.
Red Wings supporting cast stepping up
It should be no surprise to see Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat stepping up for the Red Wings. DeBrincat is second in scoring with 15 points in 13 games, while Raymond is third with 12 points in 11 games.
But it’s been the crew after Larkin, DeBrincat, and Raymond that’s been pushing the Red Wings forward. Calder Trophy candidate Emmitt Finnie is fourth on the team in scoring with eight points in 13 games. Mason Appleton, a sort of afterthought signed this offseason, has six points in 13 games.
Top defenseman Moritz Seider has five points in 13 games, with rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka notching four points in 13 games, as well.
I’d like to pause here for a moment. The Red Wings' defense, despite the absence of mind-shocking offensive numbers, has been much better than people give them credit for. Sure, the iffy goaltending at times has taken away from the team’s sheen.
But then again, the Red Wings have beaten playoff contenders this season like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers. Yes, these clubs may not be off to the hottest starts in years. But you have to respect the talent on those clubs.
Overall, the supporting cast buoying the Red Wings is nothing to sneeze at. The decent mix of up-and-coming young players and veterans should be enough to keep Detroit going all season long.
The biggest question mark is goaltending. But even if the Wings get just modest goaltending from their veteran tandem, they’ll be in good shape to finally make the playoffs for the first time in about a decade.