Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a subscriber-only article which discusses 5 reasons why the Red Wings might not make the playoffs this season, including the following:
Is DeBrincat An Elite Scorer Without Kane?
During his NHL career, new Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat has produced a pair of 41-goal seasons. Both came with the Chicago Blackhawks and Patrick Kane figured prominently as DeBrincat’s linemate in both of those productive campaigns.
Take away those two seasons and DeBrincat’s career goal-scoring works out to 26.25 goals per season. He tallied 27 times for Ottawa last season.
Who’s Going To Step Aside For Red Wings To Move Up?
It took 92 points to reach the NHL playoffs in the Eastern Conference last season. Detroit wound up with 80 points. That means at minimum, the Red Wings must win an additional six games this season.
However, there’s more to the math than simple addition when it comes to qualifying for playoff hockey. Other teams ahead of them must display a decline in their fortunes. Two of the top three finishers in the Atlantic Division last season wound up with triple digits in points, while Tampa Bay garnered 98. Only the Florida Panthers (92 points) were even close to residing in the Red Wings’ neighborhood.
And don’t forget that Detroit will also be required to leapfrog Pittsburgh (91), Buffalo (91) and Ottawa (86), other non-playoff squads that finished ahead of the Red Wings in the standings.
Continued (paywall)
