Welcome to Puck Drop Preview 2015-16, where our hockey department gives you a detailed look at each team from around the NHL leading to the start of this hockey season and offers our insight and analysis. Makes sure to stick around until the end of the series, where we’ll offer our full predictions for the standings in each division, and eventually our collective LWOS 2015-16 Stanley Cup pick. You can check out all our articles on our Puck Drop Page. Today we continue the series with the Detroit Red Wings.
Puck Drop Preview: 2015-16 Detroit Red Wings
Last Season
Entering 2014-15 with basically the same roster after striking out in free agency and with veteran forwards passing on(Todd Bertuzzi, Jordin Tootoo, David Legwand, etc.), the Red Wings looked to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2013-14. They did just that for most of the season, posting a 35-15-11 record (81 points, six back of MTL for 1st in Atlantic) through their final game before the trade deadline on February 28th.
Before the time to deal was up, General Manager Ken Holland acquired forward Erik Cole from Dallas and defenseman Marek Zidlicky from New Jersey to help add a veteran presence for the postseason run. The Wings struggled to find their way after the deadline, as the team went 8-10-3 down the stretch, netting 100 points for the 12th time the last 13 seasons(lockout excluded) and clinching a 24th consecutive playoff spot in the last week of the season for the third straight year. The Red Wings had a tough draw with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that looked like it underestimated the Wings came out the victor ultimately in a seven-game series victory.
Overall, it was another year of growth for the Wings’ young talent. Gustav Nyqvist and Tomas Tatar each nearly hit 30 goals, Pavel Datsyuk was a point-per-game player with 65 points in 63 contests, and Henrik Zetterberg played in 77 contests, tallying 66 points. Petr Mrazek stole the starting job from Jimmy Howard and posting a .933 save percentage in the last three months of the season, including a .925 save percentage in the seven games against Tampa. The goaltending was so in question while the Wings were in their slide that former head coach Mike Babcock remarked about “having a beer and telling you guys tomorrow” regarding the starting job between the pipes.
The Offseason
This summer was one of those “what a difference a year makes” type offseasons. As previously mentioned, the Wings struck out on many free agent defensemen, including Matt Niskanen, Christian Ehrhoff, and Dan Boyle in 2014. That changed this year, as the team snatched a player from the market that could have originally been drafted by them in 2004 if not for a deal to acquire Robert Lang, defenseman Mike Green for three years and $18 million.
A right-handed shot just coming into his 30s, he is everything the Wings have wanted since Brian Rafalski retired. A puck-moving, power play quarterback that can infuse offense into a blueline that’s been looking for an extra boost in that department. Niklas Kronwall can only do so much tallying nine goals and 44 points logging nearly 24 minutes per night coming into his mid-30s. Green, while he may not put up 30+ goals like he did a few years back, will provide substantial improvement, as he scored ten goals and tallied 45 points. From the looks of it he will be partnered with 25-year old Danny Dekeyser, who finished with a 54.2 CF% last season and tallied a career-high 31 points.
Brad Richards was also inked to a 1-year contract worth $3 million, fresh off of a Stanley Cup in Chicago a few months ago. He potted 12 goals and 37 points last season playing second line minutes with Patrick Kane at points in the season. With Pavel Datsyuk having ankle surgery and expected to miss the first month or so of the season, Richards may in fact end up being the team’s #1 center until his return. His lengthy experience can rub off on players just coming into their own like Nyquist and Tatar. Internally, the Wings were able to retain restricted free agents Teemu Pulkkinen, Tomas Jurco, Joakim Andersson, Riley Sheahan, and Landon Ferraro among others.
But by far, the biggest change occurred behind the bench. Exit Mike Babcock through the tunnel to Canada, enter former Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill from west Michigan. Having coached half the team in Grand Rapids, including winning the Calder Cup in 2013, many believe the team will experience a seamless transition and benefit from a new voice. The 41-year old has won everywhere he has gone, including winning a Clark Cup in the USHL. Interestingly enough, he won both of the championships in his first season as the bench boss. He is fresh off of three consecutive playoff-bound 40-win seasons and three 90 point seasons, the first Griffins head coach to do so in the franchise’s history.
2015-16 Opening Night Lineup
Forwards
Henrik Zetterberg-Brad Richards-Justin Abdelkader
Gustav Nyquist-Riley Sheahan-Tomas Tatar
Teemu Pulkkinen-Darren Helm-Tomas Jurco
Drew Miller-Luke Glendening-Landon Ferraro
Joakim Andersson-Johan Franzen
Defensemen
Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson
Mike Green-Danny Dekeyser
Kyle Quincey-Brendan Smith
Jakub Kindl/Xavier Ouellet
Goalies
Jimmy Howard
Petr Mrazek
Players to Watch
Jimmy Howard
Deja vu. It was clear Jimmy Howard had to bounce back from a regression year in 2013-14 posting a .910 save percentage in the midst of a team limping into the playoffs with figurative broken legs and torn groins. This past season, Howard was on point in doing that, posting a .922 save percentage through December earning an all-star call before a groin injury in January that seemed to change the course of his season. The rest of the way, the numbers speak for themselves: .898 save percentage, 56 goals allowed in 19 starts. So, as I said last year, the now 31-year old netminder must have a season to remember for the right reasons to grab his starter job back. A certain 23-year old Czech full of swagger and confidence is right behind him waiting to take the reigns.
Tomas Jurco
If anyone should be re-energized with the Blashill hiring, it should be 22(TWENTY TWO)-year old Tomas Jurco. I emphasize 22 for patience. It was a trying year for him last season, scoring just three goals in 63 games. However, his ice time (11:31) was indicative of the opportunities Jurco got under Babcock. In fact, he played over 15 minutes just three times, getting most of his reps in a checking role. Jurco remarked that Blashill was integral in his confidence building playing in Grand Rapids, leading to a point-per game tear in 2013-14 when he earned his call-up. Through 99 NHL games, Jurco has scored 11 goals and tallied 33 points. While that may be disappointing, it’s important to note his age and opportunity. As Jurco turns 23 this December, his opportunities under Blashill along with his younger peers could be just the spark to help his point totals increase.
Teemu Pulkkinen
Will that BB of a shot translate to the NHL? That’s the main question with Teemu Pulkkinen in terms of NHL longevity. In a limited sample last season in which he saw power play time and bottom six minutes, he scored five goals in 31 games, showing flashes of what he could be. He is a back-to-back 30-goal scorer at the AHL level, so it only seems like a matter of time. At times last season, he showed signs of a rookie, letting the dart go but more often than not putting holes in the wall around the board. Finding open space will be a challenge for the diminutive 5’10”, 194 lb sniper, but the patience will pay off. In 3-on-3 overtime, he could be a go-to weapon. Jeff Blashill knows how to use “the pulkannon” at the AHL level, but it will be interesting to see how he can do it at the NHL level.
On The Rise
Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar
These two seem like they are forming a good relationship on and off the ice. Mike Babcock remarked to me once that he didn’t know if these two were going to be the new Datsyuk and Zetterberg and that he would find out and watch just like myself. It’s hard not to make the comparison after watching these two in their first few seasons game in and game out. Both were drafted outside the first round(Nyquist in the 4th), and off to great starts in their NHL careers. Through 209 games, Pavel Datsyuk scored 53 goals and 154 points, while Henrik Zetterberg through 217 contests had scored 76 goals and 172 points. Tomas Tatar through 182 games has scored 53 goals and 103 points, while Nyquist has totaled 179 games logged, posting 59 goals and 115 points. As Datsyuk and Zetterberg enter their mid to late 30s and Nyqvist and Tatar progress into their primes, the next faces of the franchise could be the next ones leading their team to a championship drink.
Dylan Larkin
Boy, was this kid something last year. Larkin went from being picked 15th overall in the 2014 Entry Draft to playing for Grand Rapids in the Calder Cup Playoffs in less than a calendar year. He shot up the prospect pool ahead of the hyped Anthony Mantha with breathtaking speed, a dogged work ethic, and offensive flair that showed in his freshman season under Red Berenson at the University of Michigan. 35 games played, 15 goals, 47 points.
Invited to represent Team USA at the World Junior Championships, the 18-year old outplayed Jack Eichel scoring five goals and seven points. He was invited to the Hockey World Championships in Prague where he played with and against higher level competition, including some NHLers, and in May, left college early to accelerate his development into the NHL. He would suit up for six Calder Cup Playoff games, scoring three goals and five points in six games. This season, the Wings’ addition of Brad Richards is likely a stopgap for Larkin, whom the Wings would probably like to see more of at the AHL level, as six games is quite the small sample size.
Andreas Athanasiou
You talk about speed. The 21-year old winger in 55 games scored 16 goals and 32 points after scoring 49 goals in the OHL the previous season. Ever since being drafted in the 4th round of the 2012 Entry Draft, AA’s stock has risen. As one of the more under-hyped Wings prospects, he scored one less point than Mantha in seven less games. It is a transition and was made harder on Mantha with his leg injury, but Athanasiou too suffered a broken jaw that kept him out for a spell, and rather than let it hinder his play, he was one of the Griffins’ best players in 2014-15, adding five playoff goals. Like Larkin, his first three strides make him so deadly on the penalty kill and in open space. Look for him to challenge for a roster spot as soon as next season. This season will be tough with a forward logjam.
On The Decline
Johan Franzen
This is more injury-related. Franzen has suffered a double digit count of head injuries in his 10-year NHL career, including one this season that affected his home life. he wasn’t able to play with his kids it got so bad. Still, as the Wings approach training camp, Franzen suffers “weekly setbacks”. I don’t fault him for trying to go out on his own terms, but at the same time, life after hockey could be even more difficult with each hit suffered. It will be tough to see where Franzen fits into a team with a surplus of young forwards. If he does crack the opening night roster, he will likely play a top nine role. He is signed through the 2019-20 season with nearly $4 million per season tagged on that could be put on LTIR if need be. But as of now, the “mule” wants one more kick.
Niklas Kronwall
This was tough and I could be quite wrong with the addition of Mike Green taking Kronwall’s 24 minutes a night down a peg, but at times last season, it was evident the now 34-year old showed signs of slowing down. Kronwall’s CF% dropped from 52.3 to 50.4 last season, the worst mark of his career. His FF% also dropped to 48.9, nearly a 4% drop from 2013-14. Since Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement, he’s assumed the top role on the blueline and the support on the top pair has not been there (ahem Jonathan Ericsson), forcing some extra minutes on the Swede. Still, he was able to produce nine goals and 44 points last season. The production could still be there with flexibility behind him in the form of Green, but the Blashill and company will have to pay close attention and maybe shuffle things up.
Ryan Sproul
Remember when he was the most NHL-ready defenseman? Those days have passed, as Alexey Marchenko, Xavier Ouellet, and Nick Jensen have all passed him up on the depth chart. In fact, Sproul was a healthy scratch in the playoffs under Blashill and has gotten just one game of NHL experience. He is only 22, so he has some developing to do, but with the Wings logjam of defense currently with more on the way(Joe Hicketts, Vili Saarijarvi), Sproul needs to act quickly. Jakub Kindl could be motivated to have a bounce back season as well. With a right-handed bomb of a shot and his defensive tools still getting tweaked, Sproul has value to the organization. This season could be big however, in determining his future in the organization or to another.
2015-16 Predictions and Outlook
This team should excite the fans of Hockeytown. They brought in guys with pedigree from free agency(!!!), got the right-handed shot they were craving(!!!!!), and have a plethora of young talent that could take even bigger steps this season. There was change in more ways than one, evident in the new voice behind the bench, but Blashill is the guy for this team at the perfect time. Having coached the likes of Tatar, Nyquist, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Dekeyser, Sheahan, etc., the familiarity is there. As an assistant in 2011-12, Blashill got to know some of the core leaders as well, but the trust factor will have to be earned and that promotes some zeal for guys like Zetterberg and Kronwall along with Datsyuk when he returns to produce even more as leaders of the group. You can throw Jimmy Howard into that conversation as well.
Speaking of goaltending, that is a big question mark heading into this season. Personally I still think it’s Howard’s job to lose as it stands, but with Blashill having coached Petr Mrazek the majority of his pro career, one never knows. There lies the trust factor that needs to be earned by Mr. Howard. If the Wings are to get into the playoffs for 25th time in a row(Quarter of a century…), this problem needs to sort itself out with some friendly competition. I’d like to think that #35 has put what happened last season behind him and will look to be “the guy” in the spring, but we shall see what happens when the puck drops in a few weeks against Babcock and crew.
How far will the Wings go? Well, ideally with the new additions farther than the first round, but it will be again a fight to just get in. There still is a goalie named Carey Price in your division. Tampa Bay is unfair. Boston won’t be particularly happy with last season. Florida is a tough team to play against. In the end, I see the Wings taking a big step. Whether that be in the playoffs or in the regular season time will tell, but from this writer’s vantage point, the 25th trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in as many years will happen, and it just might be a drive.
Main Photo:
Stats courtesy of hockeydb, hockey reference, ESPN
Cap numbers courtesy of Cap Friendly
