The Detroit Red Wings extended their streak of reaching the playoffs to 24 straight seasons, but this summer brought organizational change anyway, as head coach Mike Babcock departed to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Enter Jeff Blashill, who has been coaching the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. If the Wings are going to continue with their annual postseason trips, the new coach will need a smooth transition.

There is still a solid core in place, but Detroit’s best players – Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg – are in their mid-thirties, and they added veteran Brad Richards in free agency, so the time is nearing for younger forwards to take on increased responsibility. That may be even more important this season as Datsyuk underwent ankle surgery in the summer, but Detroit does have a lot of forwards on the way up, including Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan, Teemu Pulkkinen and Tomas Jurco. Prospects Dyland Larkin and Anthony Mantha may not be too far from making a contribution too.

Detroit’s defence has been okay, but a relatively unspectacular group, led by Niklas Kronwall and Danny DeKeyser, but free agent addition Mike Green does add a playmaking element and, almost as importantly, a right-handed shot!

Goaltending could be a position of change, as Petr Mrazek started in the playoffs and could have the edge on veteran Jimmy Howard. At the very least, the duo should combine to give the Wings an above-average tandem between the pipes.

For a team with consistently strong possession numbers, that may be enough to extend their playoff streak.

 

OFF-SEASON HEADLINES

June 9: Red Wings hire Jeff Blashill as new coach

June 26: Datsyuk has surgery, start of camp in question

July 1: Richards inks one-year contract with Red Wings

July 1: Red Wings sign defenceman Mike Green to three-year deal

 

2015-16 DETROIT RED WINGS

* Off-season Addition

 

Projected Lineup

LW C RW
Henrik Zetterberg Pavel Datsyuk Justin Abdelkader
Gustav Nyquist Brad Richards* Tomas Tatar
Darren Helm Riley Sheahan Teemu Pulkkinen
Drew Miller Luke Glendening Tomas Jurco
Johan Franzen Joakim Andersson Landon Ferraro

Fighting For Jobs: RW Daniel Cleary, C Dylan Larkin, C Andy Miele

 

Projected Pairs

LD RD
Jonathan Ericsson Niklas Kronwall
Danny DeKeyser Mike Green*
Brendan Smith Kyle Quincey
Jakub Kindl  

Fighting For Jobs: RD Alexey Marchenko, LD Xavier Ouellet

 

Projected Goalies

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
Jimmy Howard Petr Mrazek Tom McCollum

Off-season Departures: C Stephen Weiss 

Projected Lineup: Ted Kulfan/Detroit News

 

SERAVALLI'S THREE QUESTIONS

1. Will top prospect Dylan Larkin break training camp with the Red Wings?

2. Will Pavel Datsyuk be ready for the regular season?

3. How will Johan Franzen look after an extended absence due to concussion?

 

 

BUTTON'S TOP PROSPECTS

Top 2015-16 Prospect

C Dylan Larkin (Michigan, NCAA): He's fast, can disrupt opponents with his speed as well as create opportunities. Great competitor.

Long-Term Prospect

C Axel Holmstrom (Skelleftea, SweHL): Excellent all around game and can contribute in a multi-faceted manner.

* Listed with 2014-15 teams

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS

 

Three-Year Breakdown (League Rank)

  2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Points 96 (13th)* 93 (15th) 100 (12th)
Goals For 2.5 (T-19th) 2.7 (16th) 2.8 (10th)
Goals Against 2.3 (5th) 2.7 (16th) 2.6 (15th)
Power Play 18% (15th) 18% (18th) 24% (2nd)
Penalty Killing 82% (12th) 83% (12th) 81% (T-16th)
SAT% Possession 53.6% (5th) 51.5% (9th) 53.5% (3rd)

* 2012-13 points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total

 

ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $71.7M/$71.4M

The Wings are going to be scrambling to stay under the cap. Having a seventh defenceman, Jakub Kindl, on the payroll for $2.4-million presents a challenge, but there are enough entry-level deals that could be moved to the AHL to create room. If Pavel Datsyuk starts the season on LTIR, that could allow a little more room to maneuver.

 

PARTING SHOT