Changes coming

After falling short of the Western Conference Finals each of the past three years, this offseason will definitely produce changes in the Red Wings dressing room. Here’s my list of the five players may not be suiting up in the winged wheel next season.

1. Brad Stuart – It’s been fairly well-documented that Stuart is leaving for a west coast team. His family still lives in California, and I don’t think anyone would blame him, or be too upset when he leaves. Odds of returning: 5% 
2. Tomas Holmstrom – Holmstrom has been with the Wings since 1996. If he were to return, he would turn 40 next January. Considering the beating that he takes on a usual basis in front of the net, he’s had a surprisingly long career. All of the attention has been on the possibility of a Lidstrom retirement, but I think it’s more likely we won’t be seeing Homer next year. Odds of returning: 15%
3. Kyle Quincey – Quincey was traded for a first round pick earlier this season. He scored a goal in his first game as a Wing, and didn’t play terribly. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, but I don’t see how they can realistically bring him back. He didn’t perform up to expectations in his short time here, and had a boneheaded play yesterday that ended up leading to the first goal. With Brendan Smith having spent what seems like a decade in Grand Rapids, and the hopes of adding Suter, Quincey is expendable. Odds of returning: 25%
4. Jiri Hudler – After a regular season that was surprisingly productive (25 Goals, 50 Points) in the eyes of most Red Wings fans, Hudler followed it up with two goals vs. Nashville in the postseason. Hudler is a free agent this offseason, and could try to cash in somewhere else. He was paired with Zetterberg and Filppula for the majority of the season and may have been the most consistent line throughout the regular season. However, Hudler is far from irreplaceable and the Wings would probably rather have his cap space to sign someone like Suter or Parise. Odds of returning: 40%
5. Nick Lidstrom – In the postgame show last night, Nick said he’s going to take his usual 3-4 weeks when deciding on next season. Don’t be shocked if he returns, or if he retires. Lidstrom has accomplished just about everything a defenseman can in the NHL outside of the Hart Trophy. Regardless of his decision, it won’t be long before he’s enshrined into the HHOF in Toronto and his jersey is hanging in the rafters of the Joe. Odds of returning: 60%

Regardless of who returns, who leaves for greener ($$) pastures, or who retires, the Red Wings will have a different look next season. This current core of players has been together for the past three early playoff exits. The players mentioned are the players most likely to be somewhere else next season, but there are very few untouchable players on the roster (Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Howard) as it stands now.

Ab(r)andon Inge Roundtable #1: Will the Red Wings Win the Stanley Cup this season?

Good Evening (Morning) ladies and gentlemen-

We here at Ab(r)andon Inge have decided to do a weekly roundtable post, where we all give our insight and opinion on a single question relating to Detroit sports.

This week, the question is:

Will the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup this season?


Ryan Prohaska (@Ryan_M_Pro):

In short, I do not believe the Wings can win the cup.  Considering they will most likely play 3 of the 4 series on the road, where they struggle, I do not see them being able to pull it off.  I think they will make the conference finals and lose in 6 games to Vancouver.

Phil Johnson (@DoWorkLaRoy):

If you put a fork to my nose and asked me if the Red Wings would win the Stanley Cup, I'd say yes. If you put a fork to my nose and asked me if the Red Wings would win the Stanley Cup this year, I'd say no. The lack of firepower from the team since the 23 game home winning streak ended has been alarming. Unless the power play pulls a Franzen and wakes up in the playoffs, I think this Wings team will bow out in the first or second round depending on the draw.

Frank Vajcner (@Frank_Vajcner):

It’s hard to bet against The Red Wings in the playoffs. With players that have been on the team for at least one cup winning season, you can always expect them to be in contention. This year is no different. The Wings don’t have a dominant 40-plus goal scorer, but they don’t need one when they get balanced goal scoring. Four players (Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, Valtteri Filppula, and Henrik Zetterberg) have scored at least 20 goals this season, and the team has gotten an NHL-best 44 goals from their defensemen. Plus Jimmy Howard has been a lot better in goal, posting a 2.14 GAA and a .920 save percentage. On the injury front, the only player that will be out is center Darren Helm. The only knock against the Wings is their power play, which is ranked 21^st in the NHL.

Despite only being able to possibly secure the 4^th seed in the Western Conference, the Red Wings have the talent and coaching to win their 12^th Stanley Cup. The keys to success will be to improve the power play, and avoid a first round matchup with Nashville, or with San Jose without home-ice advantage.  The Wings have not been good on the road, and that is why the wait for cup number twelve will continue until at least next season.

Brian Sakowski (@B_Sakowski):

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest hockey guy.  I love watching the Wings, but that's about as far as my interest in the sport goes.  I do know from watching the Wings this season that they play ridiculously well at home, not so well on the road, rely on 1-2 actually consistent players (Datsyuk, Pavel; and Lidstrom, Nicklas), and then ride the hot streaks of others for X amount of games at a time (Filpulla, Franzen, etc).  If these streaky players decide to catch fire all at once, and maintain it for a month, then yes, I do believe that the Wings will win the Stanley Cup.  However, for the sake of not sounding like a ridiculous slappy, I will say no, not this year.

LGRW