Mike Babcock Is Surprised By Red Wings So Far
By Tony Fischer
Everything happens for a reason…so they say. A tired cliché but it the only way to make sense of the Red Wings success this season after a complete failure in the offseason to improve the team. The failure may have been a blessing in disguise as the teams younger players have blossomed and its veterans have remained healthy. The result is a developing chemsity that may not have happened with a hired gun in the locker room.
In comments to the media, Mike Babcock admitted disappointment after failing to land come of the years biggest free agents and shock with spot in the standings.
Babcock: “Around July 5 when not much happened, I was disappointed, like a few of my veteran players who called me were disappointed, too ..
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 21, 2015
Babcock (cont.): " ... I don’t think any of us would have believed we’d be at this spot, the general manager and myself included."
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 21, 2015
The Red Wings go into the All-Star break sitting at second place in the Atlantic Division just on point behind the Tampa Bay Lightening. In recent seasons the Red Wings have been struggling to hold on to a Wild Card spot by the break much less competing for the division lead.
Mike Babcock shouldn’t be that surprised with his team’s success. After all the problem has never been with talent but with health. Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Danny Dekeyser, Jimmy Howard and Darren Helm are just a few of the Wings that missed significant time with injuries last season. This season is a different story.
All of the Wings key offensive players are healthy and productive this season. They are getting consistent scoring from every line with multiple players listed in the top twenty of offensive leaders.
- Tomas Tatar 21 goals ranked 10th
- Gustav Nyquist 19 goals ranked 14th
- Henrik Zetterberg 30 assists ranked 9th
- Henrik Zetterberg 44 points ranked 14th
Although those numbers aren’t eye-popping they do illustrate balance. In the recent past while battling injuries Detroit has been a one line team. With everyone healthy four Red Wings (Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Tatar, Nyquist) are on pace to score 30 or more goals this season with one other (Justin Abdelkader) on pace to score 20. Now the Red Wings have three lines with serious scoring threats. It is scoring depth that has made the Red Wings the surprise team going into the All-Star break.