Detroit Red Wings: Fall from Grace, Back to the Top?
Our beloved Detroit Red Wings, oh how you have fallen from grace. It has now been 8 years since the string of 25 straight playoff appearances for our most prolific sports franchise. The Red Wings made it to the playoffs every year from 1991-2016. In this period, the Wings would make 6 Stanley Cup finals, winning 4 in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008. Along with four championships, the Wings would boast some of the greatest hockey players in the history of the NHL. The likes of Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Vladimir Konstantinov, Chris Chelios, Henrik Zetterberg, and of course, our current executive vice president and general manager, Steve Yzerman. This is just a short list of the greats that played during the 25-year run of excellence.
After the 2016 season, the Red Wings would only get close to making the playoffs again, in the 2023 season. This past season, the Red Wings were in the playoff hunt down to the very last game of the season, getting eliminated by circumstances out of their control. I, personally, was able to attend the last home game of the 2023 season where the Wings, being down 4-2 going into the 3 period, would come back to win 5-4 in overtime with the game-tying and game-winning goals being scored by the young Lucas Raymond. The atmosphere in the Little Caesers Arena that night was amazing, really made you feel like the Red Wings were on the verge of getting back to the promise land. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
However, this poses the question, will Steve Yzerman and company finally break through and put together a championship-contending team. After drafting the likes of our current captain, Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, Steve Yzerman would add Alex DeBrincat, who has been a top scorer in the league for many years, and Showtime Patrick Kane who would resign with the Red Wings this offseason.
This offseason has been a headscratcher for a lot of fans. Signing two goalies, Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell, and trading Robbi Fabri for a third in Gage Alexander, leaving a question mark in the net. Steve Yzerman made another good veteran signing in Vladimir Tarasenko. It is still early in this offseason and there are many things to be happy about, but there are also many things to question. I believe that this season is a make it or break it season for the Wings to make a push to the playoffs. I believe in Steve Yzerman and his process, but I believe he may be running out of time in the eyes of some impatient fans.
2023-24 Regular Season Team Leaders
- Games Played: Alex DeBrincat, Moritz Seider, and Lucas Raymond (82)
- Goals Scored: Dylan Larkin (33)
- Assists: Lucas Raymond (41)
- Points: Lucas Raymond (72)
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