I am a grumpy, sleepless middle-aged man this morning, and I don’t like “power rankings” when I wake up rested, either. As such, you’ll have to excuse me for instinctively wincing and then grumbling as ESPN posted a set of midsummer “power rankings” based upon teams’ offseason performances:
20. Detroit Red Wings
Pre-playoff ranking: 21
Stanley Cup odds: +10000Little Caesars Arena has yet to host a playoff game. Is this the season that the drought ends? Detroit was knocking on the door this past season, and GM Steve Yzerman filled perhaps the org’s biggest need by trading for veteran goaltender John Gibson this summer.
Continued; I’d describe the Red Wings’ offseason as “in progress” given that the Wings still need to add a top-six forward and/or a top-four defenseman. I’m not certain whether the Wings will actually make those moves via trades this summer…
But it’s important that the Red Wings have addressed their needs in the crease by bringing in Gibson to supplement Cam Talbot, with Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava scheduled to start with Grand Rapids in the AHL, and Carter Gylander likely to backstop the Toledo Walleye.
