The Lions are genuine Super Bowl contenders. The Tigers, for all their foibles, have not only reached the postseason two years in a row, but won a series each time.
The Pistons, led by the sensational Cade Cunningham, are embarking on their most anticipated season since the I-Phone was in its infancy and Katy Perry declared to the world she kissed a girl.
Then there are the Red Wings. Once the team that always had it right when the others were woefully lost, serving as Detroit’s poster franchise for failure. It’s a sentiment that was particularly prevailing after the Red Wings were destroyed by self-inflicted wounds opening night vs. Montreal.
On the path to irrelevance, though, the Red Wings started winning…and winning…and winning.
They beat last spring’s Stanley Cup finalists, Florida and Edmonton. They toppled high-powered Toronto twice. They throttled Tampa Bay.
The Red Wings, in fact, have won five straight games heading to Buffalo Thursday.
During general manager Steve Yzerman’s tenure, the Red Wings have gotten off to hot starts before. They have had their share of blistering streaks, as well, which put them into an excellent playoff position. Yet, they have frustratingly not been able to sustain success.
There are signs, however, this season is different.
The Red Wings biggest issue for a decade has been inferior puck possession. It hasn’t been their top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, but especially ineffective third- and fourth-line combinations, and on the majority of the defensive corps. This season, the Red Wings’ Corsi even strength is 52.2.
The Red Wings haven’t been above 50, which means essentially possessing the puck half the time at even strength, since Dylan Larkin’s rookie season in 2015-16, which was their most recent playoff appearance. Most seasons since, Detroit’s Corsi has been between 46 and 47, and never higher than 48.8.
This is an indicator that the Red Wings have been much on breakouts, zone entries and cycling the puck, all glaring weaknesses in recent years.
The influx of rookies Axell Sandin-Pellikka, Emmitt Finnie and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has made a strong impact, and veteran additions Mason Appleton, James van Riemsdyk and Jacob Bernard-Decker have been effective. Such contributing veteran additions certainly had not been the case under Yzerman.
The goaltending has been notably better. Detroit’s save percentage is up to .907 compared to .896 last season. It’s 10th in the NHL compared to 20th last season, and that’s even with John Gibson’s brutal opening night performance. Cam Talbot and Gibson in tandem is an upgrade.
Last season, the Red Wings allowed goals 30 percent of the time on the penalty kill. It was the NHL’s worst unit, historically bad.
This season, the Red Wings have killed off 92.3 percent of their penalties, fourth-best in the league.
The Red Wings improved play is a sign Todd McLellan is the right coach at the right time. Last season, they played at a 96-point pace after he replaced Derek Lalonde, and their Corsi ticked upward. Ninety-six points would have garnered the Red Wings a playoff spot.
The Eastern Conference isn’t nearly as daunting as it had been, and the Red Wings are in line for a spot.
Of course, they must sustain this success. It is a big “if.”
Yet, there are tangible improvements which signal the Red Wings are, legitimately, finally moving up and joining their improved brethren on Detroit’s sports landscape.