Crisis in Hockeytown?
Sure looks like it.
When the Red Wings won six straight games shortly after the all-star break, a wild card playoff spot was all but a given.
Now the most relevant question: If the Red Wings can’t beat the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Little Caesars Arena, who can they beat?
The Griffins? The Walleye? The Spartans or Wolverines? Honeybaked, Belle Tire or Victory Honda? Clark Park all stars?
Out of 18 possible points, the Red Wings have garnered two in nine games. They appeared to have snapped out of it by beating Buffalo Saturday, but then flew to Pittsburgh to drop a stink bomb in a 6-3 loss to the scuffling Penguins.
It’s as if the Red Wings have a built-in excuse because Dylan Larkin is injured, and are milking it for all it’s worth.
The Red Wings have been outscored 43-17 in those nine games. Only six NHL teams have a worse goal differential for the entire season.
It has the earmarks of a collapse, although the Red Wings are still in position to make a playoff bid, although Washington moved past them into the final spot Wednesday. And the Capitals, quite frankly, don’t belong in the playoffs.
If this all ultimately results in the Red Wings missing the playoffs, a drumbeat will grow pointing the finger at general manager Steve Yzerman.
It’s ridiculous in a macro sense. Yzerman has set the course for the Red Wings to be consistent Stanley Cup contenders in the future.
In a micro sense, though, the Red Wings collapse is a disaster and does point to Yzerman.
Jonatan Berggren is a perimeter player. The Red Wings need more grit. Carter Mazur presented a better call up option.
The Red Wings defense has hit a wall. Calling up Simon Edvinsson should help and his skill level belongs on one of the Red Wings’ first two defense pairings.
And it’s difficult to understand why the Red Wings unloaded Klim Kostin. So he wasn’t playing. He likely would be now. And considering how the Red Wings were punked by the Panthers, Kostin’s physicality is needed.
There are already growing rumblings about Derek Lalonde’s status as coach.
Teams change coaches at a rate far higher in the NHL compared to other sports. Seven NHL coaches have been sacked this season. Yzerman is less inclined to fire coaches than other GMs, but all seven team won at higher percentage after making coaching changes.
Either way, it is very important the Red Wings get back in the playoffs.
This organization needs validation, for the fans on.
That won’t happen without a playoff berth.