For Red Wings fans, it’s time. Time to see their team earn a playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade, which is far too long for a historically good hockey organization. And the Wings are on the cusp, so when they’re all friends again following the 4 Nations Face-Off Final, all eyes need to be set on ending this playoff drought for good.
Yep, send it to the shadow realm, and never let such dark days return. But, setting that goal is less than half the battle. Finding ways to accomplish it is what will really test the Red Wings, and it means they must have a system in place for the two goals I have listed below.
Thankfully, the Wings have a head start, as the Todd McLellan era has so far brought good fortune. But is this team good enough to make more than a dent in the playoffs at this point? The Wings are good, and McLellan proved it. But they’re not that good.
So, following the 4 Nations break, how can the Wings transform into a team that opponents will fear instead of one that is, right now, a ‘happy to be there’ team regarding the playoff race?
Adding talent at the trade deadline can turn the Red Wings into a force
An unforeseen blockbuster trade would be great, but let’s get more realistic. Okay, well what about that entire Mikko Rantanen deal I talked about a few days ago? Ah, we’re getting warmer, and while I wouldn’t rule out Steve Yzerman, it’s still rather farfetched that Rantanen will wear a red and white sweater.
Instead, if Yzerman acquired a sound defenseman and a physical middle-six player or even a lower liner, I’d be cool with it. Get a blueliner who can play second or third-pairing minutes, and one that isn’t afraid to hit and that forward who can play bottom-six minutes, and this team could be set.
Yeah, they’ll need to stay consistent scoring, but still, muscling this group up for the inevitable ‘down the stretch’ part of the season that will be here a few seconds after the trade deadline is paramount.
A top-three finish in the Atlantic is still on the cards
Oh yes, it is. And this is what making a few of those under-the-radar trades can accomplish. Recalling Elmer Soderblom also helps this team in the physicality department, and a few more players like him will more than transform the Wings into at least a more complete team than the Ottawa Senators.
Yeah, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be hard to deal with, and I’ll concede that point 100 percent of the time. Still, you can’t help but admire Detroit’s chances more if they can start outmuscling teams and challenge Tampa for that top-three spot, assuming the Lightning will be that No. 1 contender.
So, Mr. Yzerman, let’s give the Wings a chance to first firmly entrench themselves into a wild card position, and from there, a top-three finish in the Atlantic. Yeah, it might seem like an improbable task, but it’s by no means an impossible one.