97.1 the Ticket’s Pat Caputo ponders whether the improved Detroit Red Wings can make the playoff cut in the incredibly competitive Atlantic Division this upcoming season:
Yes, Alex DeBrincat is a fabulous addition for the Red Wings. This could be the year that Mo Seider establishes himself as a top defensemen in the NHL. Dylan Larkin is in his prime, and this will likely be his most productive season. Yzerman added nine veterans to his roster. The Red Wings figure to be bigger, stronger, tougher, deeper and more balanced.
Thing is, the same can be said for the Sabres and Senators. Those are the teams the Red Wings are most compared to as up-and-comers in the Eastern Conference. In truth, those teams are more advanced in the rebuild phase.
The Red Wings had 80 points last season. They could be distinctly better and not make the playoffs. Grand Rapids is loaded with prospects, and Yzerman clearly is building the organization the right way. It does include trying to reach the playoffs now. Otherwise, he would not have added this much veteran talent in the offseason.
Yzerman inherited a disaster. He had to endure a difficult teardown before he could start rebuilding in earnest. The Red Wings essentially missed half a season because they were not in the NHL’s version of the NBA bubble during the pandemic. The Red Wings have a very strong prospect pipeline, and are being assembled to last once they emerge.
Even if these are legitimate reasons, not excuses, it won’t fly with many of the Red Wings’ faithful if they don’t reach the postseason.
