1. Balanced scoring - The Red Wings entered the All-Star break sixth in goals per game. Yet, Detroit's leading goal scorer, Dylan Larkin, is tied for 17th in the NHL with 23. In 50 games, 10 Red Wings have already reached double digits in goals. In 2022-23, just seven notched 10 or more goals for the entire season. This team isn't overly dependent on Larkin and Alex DeBrincat. There are scoring threats on all four lines. Detroit is averaging 3.48 goals per game compared to 2.89 last season.
2. Depth - Steve Yzerman turned over half the roster during the off season. The result: A much deeper team. There is a solid mix of players across all experience levels and styles. Coach Derek Lelonde is able to rotate his veteran defensemen, keeping them fresh and help avoid injuries. Most nights a contributor or two is a healthy scratch for that reason. It allowed the organization to let their top prospect, defenseman Simon Edvinsson, develop properly at Grand Rapids, and Jonatan Berggren to work on becoming more NHL efficient. Edvinsson, Berggren, forward Carter Mazur and defenseman Albert Johansson are players at Grand Rapids capable of helping the big team, if necessary.
3. Alex Lyon - The Red Wings goaltending was subpar until Lyon seized the spot. There were many reasons the Red Wings were so successful in January, but none more important than Lyon. He is fourth in the NHL in save percentage and ninth in goals against average. He is a 31-year-old journeyman, who has spent much more time in the AHL than NHL, but he was clutch down the stretch for the Panthers last season. It's not an uncommon story. Remember what Tim Thomas meant to Boston's Stanley Cup run? And Jordan Binnington for the Blues? Just last spring, Adin Hill, who had floundered most of his NHL career, came on like gangbusters, backstopping the Golden Knights championship.
4. The Record - The Red Wings are on pace for 95 points. Last season, Florida slipped into the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot with 91. The Islanders (92) and Jets (95) also secured playoff spots with 95 or less points last season. The Red Wings finished with 80. In 2022-23, the Red Wings had 50 points after 50 games. They have eight more points (58) and four more regulation wins (26) than last season at this stage. They are simply much improved.
5. Flexibility at the trade deadline - Despite trading away their first-round pick for DeBrincat, the Red Wings still have a late first-round pick from Boston from the Tyler Bertuzzi trade. They also have second- and third-round selections. And because general manager Steve Yzerman spent his first few years collecting picks, the Red Wings have a lot of organizational prospects to use as trade bait.
