NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman offers this take on how the Red Wings and seven other Eastern Conference teams can return to playing playoff hockey:
DETROIT RED WINGS
Last season: 19-27-10, 48 points, 16 points out of fourth place in Discover Central Division
How it ended: The Red Wings won five of their first 21 games (5-13-3) and never got closer than nine points out of a playoff spot the rest of the season.
Biggest offseason change: Detroit solidified itself in goal by acquiring Alex Nedeljkovic in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 22. Nedeljkovic was 15-5-3 with a 1.90 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and three shutouts in 23 starts last season. He led all goalies to play at least 20 games in GAA and save percentage, and was third in voting for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.
Why they could get in: The Red Wings allowed 3.00 goals per game last season (20th in NHL), but they should be better defensively with the additions of Nedeljkovic and defenseman Nick Leddy, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Islanders on July 16, and the ascension of top prospect Moritz Seider, who was named the best defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League last season and at the 2021 IIHF World Championship. Seider, 20, won’t be the only young player ready to make an NHL impact with Detroit, though. Among those potentially ready for larger roles are forwards Michael Rasmussen, 22; Joe Veleno, 21; and Lucas Raymond, 19. If they can deliver alongside veteran forwards Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi, that combined with the Red Wings’ defensive improvements could put them in the running for a wild card.
