The record, a sparkling 14-7-4, says a lot about the Red Wings.
So do various statistics and metrics.
The Red Wings are much better.
General manager Steve Yzerman has orchestrated numerous shrewd moves. He has drafted exceptionally well despite bad lottery luck, and acquired enough talent that the Red Wings have excellent depth. Mo Seider, Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat are budding stars.
“Playoffs” has become the byword, especially now that the Red Wings have added one of the top players of this generation, albeit coming off hip surgery, winger Patrick Kane.
But here’s some unsolicited advice for those already making hockey plans this spring: The Red Wings are far from there.
While the power play is no longer dreadful, and the Red Wings have plenty of firepower throughout their lineup, they remain a work in progress.
There is no way the Red Wings, in a conference as strong as the Eastern, will make the playoffs unless they improve defensively.
They have been playing with fire way too much lately. Thursday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Sharks was simply a matter of finally getting burned.
The Red Wings allowed two short-handed goals. They blew a 4-0 lead. Their goaltending was shaky.
The Red Wings didn’t do well protecting leads recently, despite nonetheless beating Montreal and Buffalo.
The Red Wings are capable of reaching the playoffs, but they don’t have much wiggle room. Yes, they're vastly improved, but it’s only to the point they can match the numerous contenders in their conference. Every point, like the one they let float away Thursday, is going to matter, perhaps deeply, when April arrives.
It’s fair to question the Red Wings’ goaltending. While it’s true Ville Husso has been hung out to dry too much for comfort lately, he hasn’t been making that big save or two per game that is often needed. His save percentage is below 90 percent.
Alex Lyon, who appears on the surface as a replacement level goalie, has earned a shot. He played well in some key games for the Panthers last season, and has 4-1 record, 1.61 goals against average and a .947 save percentage for the Red Wings.
It appears Lyon will start on his 31st birthday Saturday vs. Ottawa.
It’d be a mistake to think the Red Wings are a finished product. They aren’t remotely close to being a Stanley Cup contender, and their chances of making the playoffs are about 50-50.
Certainly they aren’t good enough to merely show up and beat any team by coasting and lacking discipline.
And goaltending is a growing concern.
Yzerman has done an excellent job under exceptionally difficult circumstances.
The Red Wings have made a big stride, but they have plenty of issues, too.
So in a sense Yzerman’s work has just begun in earnest.