The Athletic’s Max Bultman discusses the Red Wings’ 2018-19 season’s expectations this morning, wondering, “What would success look like” for this year’s team:
This season will begin with largely the same, rebuild-centric pillars — success measured by progress more than playoffs, and by prospects as much as the present.
But there is one key difference. A year ago, Detroit still had the unfortunate distinction of being the oldest team in the league. That was out of sync with its rebuilding status, and it was going to have to change before anything got better.
This year, it should. Three rookies, all under the age of 23, have made the team out of camp. A couple of older players were signed in free agency, but an infusion of younger talent should be enough to get the age alignment in order.
That’s a success before the games have even begun. Once that happens, the definition gets a bit more broad.
Continued (paywall)…
