Detroit Red Wings: Five Questions Entering 2015-16 Season
Say it with me – hockey season is almost upon us! Like Christmas holidays and summer vacation this is a glorious time of year. And, like trying to figure out what to get your wife or your girlfriend (or both), or where to go on vacation, hockey season in Detroit is approaching us with many questions.
How will Jeff Blashill handle his first year as an NHL head coach?
Jeff Blashill is the highly touted former head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, who was promoted to take Mike Babcock’s place as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. He has won at every level he has coached, winning championships at the junior and AHL level while winning several different coach of the year awards.
And all that doesn’t really mean anything. He is now coaching at the highest level, against the very best the hockey world has to offer. Will his team buy in to his philosophies? Will the veterans accept him? Can he teach the youngsters? Personally this is the least of my worries…I feel the best indicator of future performance is past performance, and Blashill has a great record.
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Who will the top six defenseman be?
If you looked at a depth chart for the Detroit Red Wings, you would see Nick Kronwall at the top, followed by Mike Greene, the big free agent signing. Danny DeKeyser and Jonathan Ericsson are still around, as are Kyle Quincey, Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindle.
That’s already seven defenseman, not counting the highly touted Alexey Marchenko or Xavier Oellet, who’s contracts allow them to play in the minors without going through waiver wires, but who have the potential to be on an NHL roster. Barring a trade in camp, expect the Wings to trade someone prior to the season starting. And regardless who gets the starting nod, the competition should make everyone better.
Can the veterans stay healthy?
There is no doubt that Hank Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are still amazing, and still capable of carrying a team to the playoffs. The question really is whether or not they can stay healthy enough to do this. In the past two years, the two have played only 233 games out of a possible out of a possible 328. There is no doubt they are the team leaders, but to lead effectively they need to be on the ice. And with the youth on the team, veteran leadership is critical.
Who will be goalie?
It wouldn’t be a hockey season in Detroit without wondering about the starting goaltending. Jimmy Howard won the starting job last year, but suffered an injury mid-season and never seemed to regain his early form. He is a proven veteran, with playoff experience and a hefty contract.
However, the starting goaltender for the playoffs last year was Petr Mrazek, who replaced Howard and played well in the Wings series lost to the Lightening. He’s younger, cheaper, and seems to have more raw talent than Jimmy Howard.
This will be the most interesting competition in camp, and with Jeff Blashill now calling the shots no one has any clue how it will end up. Regardless, the discussion on who should be the starter will continue well into the season.
Will the playoff streak stay alive?
Personally I think this is more of a PR stunt for anything – the fact that the Red Wings have made the playoffs 24 consecutive years. But nevertheless it is a factor in the minds of the fans. And it won’t look good on the new head coach if the Wings 24 year-old streak ends in his first season. But with the young talent on this team, I don’t consider this truly a question.
Questions abound every year, for every team. But with a new head coach, a transition to a younger team and some new free agents, it will be fascinating to watch for the answers.
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