Training Camp Preview — Detroit Red Wings

Depending on your disposition the Red Wings face a little, or a lot of pressure as it heads into Training Camp in Traverse City, beginning Friday (Sept. 15, 2017).

Coming off a season where numerous players finished below expectations, pre-season previews give the team a better shot at finishing in the Atlantic Division basement than reaching the post season.

But if some (or most) of the younger players that need to, can turn around their play, the team could surprise a lot of people.

Forwards

It’s strange to see a team like Detroit on a youth movement, but it is the younger half that holds the cards right now. That said, it was veteran captain Henrik Zetterberg once again leading the offense last season with 68 points (17g, 51a), 20 points in front of Gustav Nyquist (12g, 36a – 48 pts).

Tomas Tatar (25) was the lone shooter on the team to surpass 20 goals in 2016-17 and while his goal totals have been 19 or better in each of the past four seasons, the 26-year-old forward has seen his points total drop from the 56 he collected in 2014-15.

Inching into his prime season, Tatar is the guy that could lead this team to a more challenging position higher and more consistent offensive numbers – but he is not the only one.

Because of their age, it seemed likely, players like Tatar and Gustav Nyquist could build on earlier seasons. While they are certainly not in the ‘bust’ category, their offensive totals have either remained level or dropped a bit in the past couple seasons.

Frans Nielsen is another in a similar position as he came to Wings as a promising free agent last season and his 41-campaign is less than what he and the team hoped for.

Dylan Larkin, a Calder Cup candidate his first season, had the traditional ‘Sophomore’ slump last season and he will have some eyes on him this time around.

Anthony Mantha was a rare bright light last season and it is hoped he can build on the 36 points (17g, 19a) he collected in his 60-game rookie season.

Riley Sheahan is not generally considered a top two-line player but his two-goal season, both coming in the final game played is well under what is expected from him as well.

Andreas Athanasiou enjoyed a big season as well, but as of Sept. 14, he has not signed a contract. The Restricted Free Agent and the team are about $1millon apart in negotiations and Athanasiou currently has a better offer to play the season in Russia. That must be tempting as it also holds the possibility of playing for Canada at the Olympics in February as well.

The Wings boast one of the best affiliate systems in the league shown by both the Grand Rapids Griffins who claimed the Calder Cup as American Hockey League playoff champs last season and the Toledo Walleye, who topped everyone in regular season standings in the ECHL.

Many think 2015 First Round (19^th Overall) Selection Evgeny Svechnikov will get a good look at camp this fall and Tyler Bertuzzi, Second Round (58^th Overall) pick in 2013 has a good shot to make the club as well.

Defense

It could be said the Red Wings have never recovered from the departure of Nicklas Lidstrom in 2012.

Certainly, the corps has become more and more ordinary in that five-year stretch since the Hall of Famer called it a career. Entering this season, the Wings might have the most unimpressive blue line in the league.

Lidstrom was as much a quarterback on offense as he was a shutdown guy in his own end of the rink. Currently, Mike Green is the best offensive weapon the team has on defense, counting 14 goals from the point and playing a part in finally getting the team’s powerplay on track after the All-Star break.

Niklas Kronwall, Danny Dekeyser and Jonathan Ericsson round out the team’s top four while Xavier Ouellet, Nick Jensen and Ryan Sproul chipped in. The addition of free agent Trevor Daley, gives the team some help from a guy who knows what it’s like to win a Stanley Cup as he comes over from two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Vile Saarijarvi, a Third Round (73^rd Overall) pick at the 2015 NHL Draft is likely a year or two away, but he has put up some decent offensive numbers in the Ontario Hockey League. It will be interesting to see how he contributes through the exhibition games.

Goaltenders

The Wings have eight goaltenders in camp, but if Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard are both on the team, there doesn’t appear to be a serious race for this position.

Jared Coreau turned in an awesome season at Grand Rapids and he might deserve to get a crack at a backup spot. That would seem to make Mrazek expendable and possibly open the door for a trade if an NHL starter goes down to serious injury in the opening weeks of the NHL season.

Also, back with the Wings’ organization is Tom McCollum. The 27-year-old netminder came from a four-season run in the OHL to join the Wings/Grand Rapids/Toledo in 2009, but signed with the Flames organization as a free agent in 2016. The Wings traded a Seventh-Round pick to get McCollum back in the fold this summer.