The preseason Red Wings anti-hype watch continues. Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler was saddled with determining how the Atlantic Division will play out this upcoming season, and she’s giving the Red Wings’ a 6th place ranking, below the Buffalo Sabres:
6. Detroit Red Wings: They. Were. So. Close.
So close to making the playoffs. So close to finally being a contender after a long rebuild. So close to finally showing us what the Yzerplan is all about. So, is this the year they’ll turn meaningful hockey down the stretch into a post-season run? That’s the hope, but there are question marks up and down the lineup after another busy off-season and a to-do list that still includes signing top RFAs Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
Yzerman brought in veteran Vladimir Tarasenko and brought back Patrick Kane, both of whom are well-versed in what it takes to win it all. If everyone could just kindly sign on the dotted line, the Red Wings could finally be ready to join the contenders conversation, but overcoming questions in the crease and a tough playing field in the Atlantic is a big ask.
Continued; well, the Wings are going to have to figure out a fair number of issues as training camp and the exhibition season play out, and we all know that with Lindy Ruff behind the Sabres’ bench and the Sens having reinforced their roster, Detroit will receive no favors from the press.
