Back to the Central Division. The defending Stanley Cup Champions continued to make the rest of the league look like Chump-ions when they signed Marian Hossa in the off-season. Minus some age issues in net this is a really solid hockey team. They have a depth issue in that they have too many talented forwards and defensemen, and backup goalies, to give ice time too. Most GM's would kill for Detroit's roster, and at the end of the season it could be this roster that raises Lord Stanley.
Key Departures:
None
New Faces:
Marian Hossa
Somehow the save Osgood made on Hossa in the final second of the Stanley Cup playoffs (here, at 1:2o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTmtStd8SWg&feature=related) didn't win him the Conn Smythe trophy. Hossa decided it also wouldn't haunt him for the rest of his life. Rather than taking the money and running this summer (reportedly turning down down a big money 7 year deal with the Oilers) Hossa decided to instead follow another age old cliche... If you can't beat them join them. Hossa, the most sought after free agent this summer, will be a sparkling addition to this team.
The Offense:
You want to Draft:
Pavel Datsyuk
Henrik Zetterberg
Marian Hossa
Everything went up for Pavel Datsyuk last season. His powerplay time, his shots, his goals, his assists, his +/-, even his PIM (don't get excited he still only had 41). He's an elite center, particularly if he continues to shoot at the pace he did last season, and you should consider him late in the second round or early in the third. He has a legitimate shot at repeating or improving upon his point totals from last year (97).
FACT: Over the course of his 6 year career Datsyuk has only finished one season with a negative in the +/- category (-2) and is +125 lifetime.
27 points in the playoffs is pretty good. So is 92 points in only 75 games... I mean I guess its fine. Conn Smythe Trophy... yea all right but where's your Visa Check Card? Zetterberg hit every bit of his potential last season, scoring 43 goals, taking 358 shots and being a force on both ends of the ice. This is a contract year for Henrik, expect more of the same from the talented Swede. 100 points is more than possible, particularly with how dominant I expect Detroit's powerplay is about to become.
FACT: How good are Detroit's scouts? They drafted Zetterberg in the 7th round!!!!!!!! A potential 100 point scorer! Its not even fair.
Hossa had an off year for Marian Hossa, scoring only 66 points in 72 games. That's an off year. Think about that. Finding himself on the most talented team he's played on (yes I'm including his ten game stint with Pittsburgh last year) Hossa shouldn't have to worry about point totals as much this year. Expect a rebound to about a point a game, his historical pace, or a little better for Marian this year. If the Red Wings take the unlikely step of making an all star line, then that prediciton goes up to about 95 points.
FACT: Hossa met his critics head on in the playoffs. Often criticized for disappearing in the postseason, Hossa scored 12 goals and added 14 assists for a 26 point playoff performance, at times looking like the best player on the Pittsburgh roster.
You Want to Keep an Eye On:
Tomas Holmstrom
Valtteri Filppula
Daniel Cleary
Johan Franzen
Holmstrom was on his way to a big season last year before going down to injury. He's a pest, and one who's usefulness may have run its course with the arrival of Hossa. Holmstrom will still see powerplay time but he becomes less of a necessity then before. He'll still have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 points but decreased ice time will lead to decreased shots, and decreased usefulness.
FACT: Holmstrom has never scored more then 59 points and despite his physical play doesn't get a lot of Penalty Minutes.
Filppula is another one of the highly regarded Detroit prospects. You know, a future two-way center or somesuch. Pay him no mind (snicker). I think that given the team's depth Filppula will continue to be a role player for at least another season, scoring about 40 points. Take note of him though.
FACT: Detroit thinks highly of him. They signed him to a 5 year, 15 million dollar deal in the offseason.
Cleary had a promising season last year, scoring 42 points in 63 games seemed to signal the 13th overall pick in 1997's arrival. Alas Hossa's arrival puts him third on the depth chart at his position. He is looking more and more like the odd man out on this Detroit team.
FACT: Cleary's 42 points last season was his best output for a single season. I think thats your absolute ceiling for him this season.
Nope... I'm not buying the hype on Franzen. Yes I realize that he had all of 13 points before the all star break and had a stunning 25 points after. Yes I know that he had 13 goals and 18 points in only 16 playoff games. But here's the facts. Franzen's "stunning" performance at the end of the season came upon his promotion to the Datsyuk Zetterberg line and the first powerplay unit after Holmstrom was injured. Hossa's arrival will limit both of those. Of Franzen's 13 goals (a Detroit playoff record he now shares with Zetterberg) 9 of them came off a lame duck Colorado Avalanche team. The guy pulls a Claude Lemieux postseason, from nowhere and all of a sudden he's the second coming? I don't think so. Watch for streaks, draft him if you must, but expect no more then high 40's low 50's.
FACT: Franzen, Zetterberg and Datsyuk were all discovered by the same scout, Håkan Andersson.
The Defense:
The talent! Brad Stuart is the fourth defenseman on this team.
You want to Draft:
Nicklas Lidstrom
Brian Rafalski
Niklas Kronwall
What else needs be said about Lidstrom. Another year, another Norris, another time he should be the first defenseman off the boards in your fantasy draft.
FACT: Nicklas Lidstrom has won the Norris trophy six times and was the first European player to ever receive the award.
Brian Rafalski stepped in and did exactly what he's been doing for several years now, except with more goals, less assists and a higher plus/minus. He is a fine option as your number 1 or 2 defenseman as he gets plenty of points, takes enough shots and sees plenty of powerplay time.
FACT: Brian Rafalski was, in 1999, named the best hockey player not playing in the NHL. He was signed by the New Jersey Devils shortly thereafter.
Kronwall has been a breakout candidate for years now. Last year he finally broke, scoring 35 points in 65 games while being a +25. Look for Kronwall to repeat or improve that performance this year. He is best suited as your third or fourth defenseman but only because he doesn't get the powerplay time you need for a second defenseman.
FACT: Kronwall led all Red Wings with 15 assists in the postseason and all Red Wings defensemen with 15 points.
The Powerplay:
Pavel Datsyuk
Henrik Zetterberg
Marian Hossa
Brian Rafalski
Nicklas Lidstrom
Watch out Western Conference. They're coming for you.
The Goalie(s):
Osgood had a heck of a season, and postseason, for the Red Wings last year. 40 games started and 27 wins. Osgood put up the best GAA of his career (at 2.09) and second best SV% (.914). I would expect both of those numbers to go up as Osgood gets more starts this season, but not by much. Detroit's defense is very very good and Osgood, if last year is any indication, is more than adequate.
FACT: Osgood's playoff numbers: 14 wins, 1.55 GAA and .930 SV.% Damn! Dominator who?
Should Osgood falter, Ty Conklin, fresh off of keeping the wheels on Pittsburgh's season when Fleury went down, will be there to pick up the slack. Conklin put up very good numbers on a defensively inferior Pittsburgh team, winning 18 of 30 starts while posting a 2.51 GAA and .923 SV%. This is one backup I wouldn't hesitate to grab if Osgood goes down. Regardless of injury he'll probably see at least 20 starts this season.
FACT: Conklin's one year contract likely means the delay of the Jimmy Howard era for at least another year. Howard, who had a very accomplished college career with the University of Maine, will see at least one more year of seasoning in the AHL before becoming Osgood's backup.
The Verdict:
Division? Conference? President's Trophy? Stanley Cup? Dynasty? They are all in reach for this talented squad.
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