The Free Press’s Carlos Monarrez got in the last question during Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference yesterday morning, and Monarrez expounds upon that point this morning:
It finally happened. Steve Yzerman is talking about the Detroit Red Wings making the playoffs.
OK, I sort of had to pester him about it during Wednesday’s news conference on the eve of training camp. But the Wings’ general manager did speak about the possibility — however remote — that his team might make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
The Wings were six points out of a wild-card spot in mid-February, so I asked Yzerman if it would be crazy to think they might be able to at least make a late-season push for a playoff spot this year.
After all, they were somewhat close last season, and that was under Jeff Blashill. Now they have what we could presume is a better coach in Derek Lalonde, plus an upgraded roster via free agents and draft picks and youngsters coming up the ranks.
So, with all that? What about it, Steve? Can we start planning our Stanley Cup playoff parties?
“I’m not prepared to say that,” Yzerman said.
Update: Here’s more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:
Yzerman is at least winning to go the Lloyd Christmas route and admit that if a lot of things fall neatly into place, there could be a chance at the playoffs.
“This season, we’ll see how we progress,” Yzerman cautioned. “If we can be more competitive on the road, match up a little bit better against the top teams when we go into their building. If we can win on back to back nights. That would give me some optimism that hey maybe we can push forward.
“But for me to talk about the playoffs now, it’s so far off. As we were talking about our division, today, not knowing what’s going to happen, you’d say probably Toronto, Tampa and Florida, there’s the three teams in our division we expect to make the playoffs. Pick whichever three in the Metro. Then the rest of us are competing for two Wild Card spots. That’s a real challenge. I’m hoping we’re there, but time will tell.
