The Free Press’s Shawn Windsor wrote a “Spirit of the Thing” column which extols the virtues of the Red Wings and Pistons as tougher, don’t-take-any-shit teams this morning:
The Wings and Pistons aren’t close to contention. But then, you knew that.
What you may not have known, at least until the last couple of weeks, is how much the city’s winter teams are beginning to embody Detroit. Yes, we’re not even a week into the NBA schedule and barely two weeks into the NHL’s — but the physicality and toughness both teams have displayed isn’t an accident.
It’s by design, specifically those of Steve Yzerman and Troy Weaver. Even in the small sample size of five combined games, it’s easy to see.
Whether it’s Dylan Larkin dropping his gloves after taking a swing at Tampa Bay’s Mathieu Joseph in the season opener or Givani Smith curling three left hooks into Calgary’s Milan Lucic on Thursday night, the Detroit Red Wings aren’t taking anything.
From anyone.
Continued; the Red Wings and Pistons are certainly “prickly,” but I think that the Wings’ team toughness is a work in progress…
