Detroit Red Wings: Fans need to quit with the lottery talk this early

The Detroit Red Wings are 7-6-2 at the time of writing and have more “points” on the season than the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. While there’s plenty of time left in this season, and things are going to change, it’s too early to start talking about the draft.

The Detroit Red Wings are a much better team than they were a year ago and have already shown that. It’s a much more competent group that is playing to a higher standard than in previous years. The Red Wings are going to eclipse their win total from last season and in 2019-20 and be able to start moving in the right direction.

That being said, it confuses me why there is draft lottery talk being thrown around already. In a  recent subscriber story ($) from the Detroit Free Press, it talks about the Red Wings being able to win the “Shane Wright sweepstakes.”

Shane Wright is the star of this year’s draft class who is likely to be the first overall pick, and the Red Wings are going to be far from a lottery pick. While the article discussed the Red Wings likely missing out, talking about the lottery has been the bread and butter of the last few years, it feels like we should embrace the team’s success.

The Detroit Red Wings fanbase needs to quit it with the draft lottery talk.

While landing a top talent like Shane Wright sounds great and adding this year’s “generational talent” in the draft is going to make the Red Wings better. But the likelihood is going to be low, given the Red Wings status.

As the Red Wings continue to go through the 2021-22 season, it seems that they are going to find ways to win and be a much better hockey team. I’m not saying they are going to win the Stanley Cup or even make the playoffs this year; that’s too far out there.

Frankly, it does seem like the Red Wings could possibly, maybe, sort of end up in the playoffs, which is baffling. But, once again, it’s been 15 games, so things can change drastically. I think that the Red Wings will be closer to a .500 team or be a .500 team rather than be in the lottery hunt.

While, yes, the argument can be made that the Red Wings will have a minute chance at winning the first overall pick, but the odds are overwhelmingly low. The lottery talk should be quieted; let’s enjoy the Red Wings finding success.

The Red Wings have been a far more fun team to watch this year than in years prior, but thinking they’re going to be in contention for a top-tier lottery pick is a bit far-fetched.