The Detroit Red Wings organization is driving everyone nuts -- and rightfully so. There is no clear vision for the team (at least from an administrative and fan standpoint).
To some degree, the Red Wings players are lucky. They get to (and should) block out all the noise that is wreaking havoc in Hockeytown.
Between whistles and during practice, the players get to focus. They can even lower the volume at which the fuzz comes through the sound waves. Meanwhile, fans and media alike struggle to find anything positive to look forward to this season. There is one glimmer of hope on the horizon (however dark the clouds up ahead might be).
The defense is the best we've seen in years
While Detroit lost quite a bit of offense up front this offseason, they might be gaining (at least some of) it with their new back end.
Everyone knows the adage that good defense leads to offense. This season’s version of the blue line is stacked (maybe not against the rest of the NHL, but certainly when compared to previous Red Wings’ blue lines). It might be a bit wobbly, but, as the season marches on, the defense will slowly cement itself as the best unit the Wings have iced in nearly a decade.
While the season's still early, there's plenty to get excited about.
Anton Johansson, rightfully so, headlines the new look on defense. From the moment fans started tuning into Johansson, they’ve seen nothing but someone they desperately need in Detroit. Even if he had to round out his game (as all defensemen do), he's shown flashes of the player he’s destined to become right away.
His game has taken great strides since the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (same year as Marco Kasper). The infectious attitude, token smile, and upbeat nature haven’t faltered, either.
He endeared himself to fans early this season by becoming a thorn in the side of Sidney Crosby. As he continues to grow, the love Detroit has for Johansson will only go up from here as well.
I call him the pendulum, because when he’s on the ice the Red Wings change. Each time Detroit looks stagnant, Johansson hops over the boards. From there, he attempts to make plays (for better or worse, of course).
The fact that he helps break pucks out well (most of the tim) is an added bonus as the Red Wings move north on the ice—a huge struggle for the team in the past.
More depth in Detroit than we've seen in forever
Axel Sandin-Pellikka adds to that dynamic, as well. Every time he’s on the ice, Wings fans must buckle up because we all know the ride will be a wild one. At this point, turbulence is to be expected when we see Sandin-Pellikka wheeling and dealing. He’s not afraid to break the puck out himself or fly his way into the offensive zone.
For a team that is halted at an opposing team’s blue line like it’s an impenetrable wall, having two guys (regardless of their position within the lineup) willing to step up and make that attempt is all we can hope for.
With Sandin-Pellikka and Johansson activating more frequently, we get to see players like Lucas Raymond covering the point. They’re learning and growing into a flexible five-man unit as opposed to just a bunch of jerseys on the ice. Of course, it’s not all perfect. It never has to be.
The glimpses are enticing. Their buy in to the Red Wings is real. Helping to inspire teammates is just as big an impact as their actual play on the ice, as well.
Factoring in a possible full season with Justin Faulk, who has shown well (at the end of last season, in the World Championships this summer, and in preseason) and Moritz Seider on the right side of defense, things only get more intriguing.
The left side defense leaves a bit to be desired, especially while Edvinsson remains unsigned—a baffling decision by the Detroit Red Wings. To alleviate this, they’re trying Faulk and/or Johansson on the left side, which is a strange choice. It could be due to the lack of right handed defensemen in the league, but it’s uncommon for a right handed defenseman to play on the left side.
While it opens up a right shot for possibly great scoring chances, it makes everything else a bit more difficult. If the Wings ran a lineup of say, 11 forwards and seven defensemen, having a guy like Sandin-Pellikka offsetting guys like Seider, either Johansson or Faulk on the left side could be interesting. Depending on the circumstances, he could be deployed to use his rocket of a shot.
Sandin-Pellikka is confident in his shot -- bordering on cocky, even.
Back in the preseason, Sandin-Pellikka scored a huge goal from Anton Johansson. Before then, he informed his teammate that “if he wants an apple to get it in his wheelhouse” -- a remark that Johansson shared with the media following the game.
Guess it’s only cocky if a player can’t back it up, right?
It’s a piece of the puzzle the Red Wings have missed. We had guys like Petr Mrázek and Filip Zadina who had a bit of ‘tude. However, things didn’t work out for the better. Sandin-Pellikka seems to be a bit different, and I hope it’s something that he continues to do. Detroit needs to have that swagger in the lineup.
Utilizing Sandin-Pellikka’s shot (and many other talents) on the left side while having the flexibility of when, how and who he’s deployed with could do wonders for both the Sandin-Pellikka and the Red Wings’ confidence.
Even if the Wings’ coaching staff settles with the standard format (12 forwards and six defensemen) and/or keeps Faulk or Johansson on the left side, Detroit still looks remarkably improved on the blue line from a season ago. All without signing their number two defenseman, making a trade or signing a free agent.
Their names might not be as sexy as Patrick Kane or Dylan Larkin to this point. Their numbers may not give you pause, yet.
These facts don’t change that the Detroit Red Wings have a newfound blue line that is remarkably different from last year, and they’re ready to make some noise of their own.
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