That the Detroit Red Wings struggled to make an impact in the 2020-21 season is a big understatement – after all, they finished second-to-last in the NHL with only an 11.4% rate of success. Now the team rebuild has begun, with general manager Steve Yzerman entering his third year with the franchise and head coach Jeff Blashill’s contract (surprisingly to some) being extended for a further two years. The defence-oriented ‘Blash’ is now joined by assistant coach Alex Tanguay, specifically brought on board to build on the Wings’ offensive play.
Blashill has already made his approach to lifting the team out of the depths: “It takes steps in the right direction with as few steps in the wrong direction. It’s not one giant leap. It takes the continual process of getting better and better.” With that in mind, we may not see the Red Wings take flight in 2021-22, but with some very promising players on the roster, those steps towards improvement could well see the team soar to a higher level in the 2023-24 season.
Players to Watch in the Red Wings Rink
Already, up-and-coming players with huge potential have been touted as being the Red Wings’ breakout stars. Jakub Vrána has arrived from the Washington Capitals on a three-year deal, having completed his 2019-20 season with 52 points in 69 games. In addition, Yzerman tackled a defense weakness head-on by signing Alex Nedeljkovic for goal, who was a Calder Trophy finalist after posting the lowest goals-against average and highest save percentage in the NHL. If he continues that trajectory, Nedeljkovic is going to be, literally, a saving grace for the Red Wings.
Other names causing a stir are goal-scoring sensation Filip Zadina, back from the ankle injury that ended his season in February 2020, and Moritz Seider returns from his loan to the SHL – where he was named defenceman of the year – to find his footing at NHL level. There’s even more talent on the roster, thanks to the addition of new signing Nick Leddy, traded by the NY Islanders, and free-agent Pius Suter. Let’s not forget that all eyes are still on existing players Filip Hronek and Tyler Bertuzzi, the like of whom are yet to show us what they can really do on the ice.
Don’t Let Your Enthusiasm Melt Away
With pundits predicting that the Red Wings won’t make the 2021-22 playoffs, it’s lucky that faithful fan bases can still get their ice hockey fix from video games and online casino titles such as Jagr’s Super Slot game, based on the NHL legend Jaromir Jagr. It’s about as fast-paced and immersive as any live ice hockey game, and the best bit is that online casinos like BetMGM offer numerous incentives for signing up as can be seen on this page about casino bonuses that can be used in Michigan by Bonusfinder. There’s always hope for the next season, but in the meanwhile, avid Red Wings fans may spare themselves further heartbreak by sticking to gaming options.
So, we may need to wait it out for another season before we see the Red Wings start ruffling some feathers in the NHL. But this is a team that’s taking real strides in its step-by-step approach. Giving those new players time to improve their game will pay off in the long run as the Detroit Red Wings set their sights on flying high as a winning team once again.
