Since we're at the conference finals, I will be reviewing the seasons of teams as they're eliminated from the playoffs. Obviously, the last team reviewed will be the one that wins the Cup.
Now the next team to be eliminated from the playoffs: The Detroit Red Wings.
My prediction: First in the Central Division and having a nice run in the playoffs.
The truth: First in the Central Division and being a game short of making the Western Conference Finals, being eliminated in seven games by the San Jose Sharks after a nearly impossible comeback.
So what happened?: Sometimes it comes down to one game. For that game, the Red Wings went into battle without their top-six big man Johan Franzen while the Sharks had Ryan Clowe return. Within three minutes, the Red Wings other top-six big man Todd Bertuzzi goes down with injury. With the game being a goal apart early in the third period, a careless play by Jiri Hudler inadvertently injures the team's Number 7 forward Danny Cleary. No team can lose three forwards of that importance and expect to win against another team of equal and comparable talent. That's what happened.
So what's next?: This media hullabaloo about a rebuild is utter horseshit. The components are in place for next season so now the reinforcements are sought to be brought in. If Lidstrom comes back, great. If not, they'll land another top defenseman because they're the Detroit Red Wings. The team may opt to go with their current formula of puck-possession players but a few more chippy players would hurt more than not. Nevertheless, a healthy Wings squad is still dangerous and even if Lidstrom and Co. decides to retire, there's a whole lotta power left in that Red and White machine that will be an absolute bitch to contain.
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