As part of the lead-up to today’s Red Wings-Blue Jackets game on NBCSN, Pro Hockey Talk’s James O’Brien wondered if the Red Wings could be too good for their own collective sake this season:
Barring an incredible change of fortunes, the Detroit Red Wings are most likely looking for the future, even while playing in the present. With that in mind, there is such thing as the Red Wings playing too well.
Theoretically, the Red Wings could see growth from players like Filip Zadina, ride the Dylan Larkin-fueled top line, and take advantage of hot goaltending to play better than expected.
There are advantages to being competitive. After all, rebuilding teams eventually need to start winning. Getting blown out all the time can break spirits, and create bad habits.
Look at the Tim Murray-era Sabres and you can see the ways things can go wrong, even when you’re doing things right on paper.
