By: KEN W PACZAS
Cory sits in his room, lying in bed staring at the ceiling. He has been a life long hockey fan, pouring his heart into hockey night in Canada. His Red Wings could do no harm. Then last year happened and his world came crashing down.
The Detroit Red Wings opened training camp Sept. 18 in Traverse City, Mich., looking to rebound from an early playoff exit last season. Their second-round loss to the San Jose Sharks last spring was the earliest the Wings were ousted from the postseason dating back to the 2005-06 campaign. Throw in the fact that Canada and Sid the Kid won the Gold medal in the Olympics and last year was not a fun year for fans like Cory.
Many will argue Detroit's Stanley Cup window is closing as there are eight core players on the roster 35 years of age or older. However, they should not be counted out just yet.
Detroit looks on paper to be the best team in the NHL, led by a very powerful offense that has players all in their prime or entering their prime.Detroit will have the best 12 forwards up and down their roster, better than any other team besides possibly the Washington Capitals.
The Wings added the all-time leading American scorer Mike Modano to their lineup, penciled in as their third-line center.
Adding Modano gives Coach Mike Babcock the flexibility to reunite Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom on a line again, which propelled Detroit's offense in the early years after the lockout.
Their second line will consist of Filppula, who had a great second half and figures to have a breakout year finally, centering playoff sensation Swedish Mull Franzen, and an aging Todd Bertuzzi.
Modano, who doesn't have the speed that made him such a fearsome center in the 90s, will have blazing wheels on his wings with Hudler making his return to the NHL and gritty speedster Cleary. Modano hasn't lost his hockey IQ or passing skills, so he should still be able to produce on a line with a lot of speed.
Of their forwards, Datsyuk and Zetterberg are figured to gain well more than 80 points each, Hudler and Franzen at 60-70, Filppula and Cleary 50, Bertuzzi and Modano around 40. That's a very potent offense.
Their defense hasn't changed and the extra month will greatly benefit the 40-year-old Lidstrom, who struggled the first half of the season, but soared during the second half. Even though only Red Wing fans will call him “elite”, Lidy is still a good defenseman, and if he can stay healthy should play at a high level.
Jimmy Howard will look to prove that he wasn't just a shot in the pan last year after being nominated for the Calder trophy. Howard turned out 37 wins with a 2.24 GAA and a .924 SV percentage.
Howard struggled in the beginning of the season, but as the Wings lost more bodies and were running on fumes, Howard kept them in most games and really stepped up to salvage the season until the Wings got healthy.
Howard looked out of gas in the playoffs and didn't play great against San Jose. Although, their first three losses were by a goal, it didn't help that he let in four in each of those three games.
The Wings finished with 102 points, aren't losing anybody significant, and have upgraded their roster.
Giving that no one in the Central got any better only worse, the Wings should have no problem regaining their crown, as well as fighting for the President's Trophy.
The Wings will break 50 wins for the fifth time in six seasons; produce 116 points and either win the President's Trophy or fall by a point or two. This season looks like the Wings could add their fifth Stanley Cup in 14 years.
However, they will lose, once again, to the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the Stanley Cup finals.
I can just picture Cory now, sitting in bed, throwing darts at pictures of Malkin and Crosby….
“Damn You PITTSBURGH!!!!!!!!”
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