2015-2016 expectations

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Which coach ran the powerplay? The one that stayed or the one that left?

The one that left.

I hope we keep the 1-3-1 configuration that really seemed to work. Last year it was with 1 defenceman, but it will be interesting to see what they do this year. Kronwall and Green will obviously each be on one of the PP units, but I also liked what DD was doing last year and I think there was take by Blashill of giving Smith some PP time. I guess 2 of those guys could play on the wall. Too many candidates is always a good problem.

Edited September 11, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

The one that left.

I hope we keep the 1-3-1 configuration that really seemed to work. Last year it was with 1 defenceman, but it will be interesting to see what they do this year. Kronwall and Green will obviously each be on one of the PP units, but I also liked what DD was doing last year and I think there was take by Blashill of giving Smith some PP time. I guess 2 of those guys could play on the wall. Too many candidates is always a good problem.

Green on the wall could be deadly

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I expect them to contend for a wildcard spot again. Nobody knows how long it will take Blashill to implement his system and hammer the strategy home for all the players. Wings are starting the season without their best player and it will for sure take him some time get into hockey shape, so to me that's a big concern because it means Richards will have to play second line center instead of 3 line and if his Chicago stint is and indication that's asking too much of him at this point in his career.

Mike Green will also have to play defense and not just run the powerplay if he can do that he will be a nice addition but if not an improved power play and more goals against will equal itself out.

The core is a year older and Z's play in the second half especially the playoffs has me very concerned what to realistically expect from him going forward. According to himself that was the best he felt since years so hopefully he can be the Z of the first half. As a whole the core is one year older and I hate to say it on their last legs so it's up to the kids to take another step forward and help them out, we can't expect Z and Pasha to carry this team on their back like we've been used to for so long.

Hopefully both Tatar and Goose were able to add a few pounds so that they won't be as easy to knock of the puck anymore and be able to really take advantage of their peak speed. In terms of production I would be happy if they can match last year and play a bit more defensive responsible but all in all no concerns with both of them. Same goes for Danny D. I hope he is bigger now and will start to dish out some hits but even if not I really like his play and only expect him to get better and be our number 1 soon.

Pulkinnen, Jurco and Smith to me is simple they'll get a chance and it's up to them what happens after that they either run with it or get traded come trade deadline. And no Blashill nor any other coach will be able to give Pulkinnen more time to get of his canon of a shot this isn't the AHL he needs to work for space here simple as that.

I'm not concerned with goaltending Howard had a lot of time to fully recover and will get pushed by whoever the backup is, so that's a good thing for both goalies.

When it comes to Blashill all I'm hoping for is that the fans and front office are giving him time because adjusting to the NHL will take time and patience from everyone involved. I expect him to try a few things and see if they work at that level of they don't he will change them till he finds the right system and strategy for this team. I for sure don't expect him to come in and just run the show knowing all the inns and outs like Babcock did because that would be very unfair to a rookie coach.

So all in all my expectations are very modest play hard every shift and don't try to pull a Dave Lewis on Blash and then see how it goes.

Teams that are obviously better:

Bolts

Rangers (their window is ticking though)

Capitals

Penguins (that top 6 wow)

Blue Jackets (dark horse if healthy!

Islanders

Habs (only if Price plays god again if not they are worse )

so I expect us to fight for one of the 2 remaining wildcard spots with teams like the Senators, Panthers and Flyers.

Edited September 11, 2015 by frankgrimes

[krsmith17 7,191]

I believe this team is a lock to finish top 3 in the Atlantic Division, baring major injuries to key players. I see the Wings and Lightning fighting neck and neck for number 1, and Montreal finishing number 3. There is a huge drop off after those 3 teams, and I wouldn't be surprised if all 5 of Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo and Florida miss the playoffs this season, with the Metro Division taking up the two mild card spots. My projection for the East looks something like this...

Atlantic

1. Tampa

2. Detroit

3. Montreal

Metropolitan

1. New York R.

2. Pittsburgh

3. Washington

Wild Card

1. Columbus

2. New York I.

I expect a pretty seamless transition from Babcock to Blashill, and a rejuvenated group under a new coach. Their coaching styles are very similar, but by all accounts the way they treat the players is night and day, which should make a huge difference. I think Datsyuk and Zetterberg can maintain the level they played last season, hovering at around a point per game pace or slightly under. The question isn't how they'll play when they're healthy, it's how many games they'll be healthy for. Nyquist and Tatar should continue to develop into key players for this organization, putting up 60+ points each. I expect all three of Sheahan, Jurco and Pulkkinen to surprise a lot of people this season, all eclipsing the 40 point plateau. We have an extremely deep forward group, and I think we will see major improvements on the back end as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see DeKeyser - Green emerge as the number one pair by Christmas. I think our power-play will be lethal again this season, and will only improve with the additions of Green and Pulkkinen (used properly). We have two really good goaltenders that should push each other all season. I think this team is legit and they will finally be able to prove it in the post season. Anything short of 2nd in the division and Conference Final will be a disappointment to me...

[rick zombo 3,739]

I'm not concerned with goaltending Howard had a lot of time to fully recover and will get pushed by whoever the backup is, so that's a good thing for both goalies.

Gee. I wonder who this backup goalie will be.

[kipwinger 8,518]

My bold picks for the conference. Washington is on the cusp of being VERY good, and I liked the Williams and Oshie moves. Plus their two young Russians are going to be really good this year. Pittsburgh doesn't even make the playoffs because Kessel won't help as much as they think, and because Brandon Dubinsky eats Sydney Crosby alive in head to head play.

Washington

Tampa

Detroit

Montreal

NY Islander

Columbus

NY Rangers

Florida

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm expecting the same from Smith. Colossal failure.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Hopefully, we can have at least a .500 record in shootouts. That may avoid going on the road to play a game 7.

Babcock and Howard had a childish attitude last year towards shootouts.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Hopefully, we can have at least a .500 record in shootouts. That may avoid going on the road to play a game 7.

Babcock and Howard had a childish attitude last year towards shootouts.

Don't forget about 3-on-3 play in OT. Hopefully the Wings can win more of those than they lose. One potential advantage Detroit has over a lot of other teams is that Blashill gained experience with this last year in GRs. Something many coaches in the league can't say.

[kipwinger 8,518]

Don't forget about 3-on-3 play in OT. Hopefully the Wings can win more of those than they lose. One potential advantage Detroit has over a lot of other teams is that Blashill gained experience with this last year in GRs. Something many coaches in the league can't say.

This is a very good point. I hadn't thought about it. There should be a learning curve for a lot of coaches, particularly non-offensive minded coaches, for about a year or so.

[ami 273]

wings will beat crap out of leafs 4 times this season. babs cry, blash laugh.

[redwingmachine 189]

Don't forget about 3-on-3 play in OT. Hopefully the Wings can win more of those than they lose. One potential advantage Detroit has over a lot of other teams is that Blashill gained experience with this last year in GRs. Something many coaches in the league can't say.

Damn good point. I'm pretty sure Blash is going to blow some **** off this year.

hahah, darn censorship! That is easily taken out of context. Anyone who watches It's Always Sunny will know what I'm trying to say.

Edited September 11, 2015 by redwingmachine

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm not concerned with goaltending Howard had a lot of time to fully recover and will get pushed by whoever the backup is, so that's a good thing for both goalies.

Wait you're telling me you're clueless as to who our backup is?!?!

Hopefully both Tatar and Goose were able to add a few pounds so that they won't be as easy to knock of the puck anymore and be able to really take advantage of their peak speed.

I second this. But I doubt they gained any weight.

The core is a year older and Z's play in the second half especially the playoffs has me very concerned what to realistically expect from him going forward. According to himself that was the best he felt since years so hopefully he can be the Z of the first half. As a whole the core is one year older and I hate to say

I don't think this is true. In his recent interview he mentioned that this summer he was actually able to condition and workout and last year he spent most of his time in rehab and couldn't workout as hard.

He was bound to run out of gas if that was really the case

[kliq 3,755]

Hopefully, we can have at least a .500 record in shootouts. That may avoid going on the road to play a game 7.

Babcock and Howard had a childish attitude last year towards shootouts.

I cant blame Howard for this, he just echoed what his coach said. Any team guy will do the same. For this I blame Babs.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

This is a very good point. I hadn't thought about it. There should be a learning curve for a lot of coaches, particularly non-offensive minded coaches, for about a year or so.

You mean like our former one that probably would use Glendening and Miller for most of the 3-on-3 time?

[kickazz 5,459]

You mean like our former one that probably would use Glendening and Miller for most of the 3-on-3 time?

Meh I don't know about that.

He probably would have utilized Tatar/Nyqyust. D/Z due to their ability to thrive in space.

I hope Blash does this. This is like the perfect scenario for Dat/Zet , Nyquist/Tat , Helm type of players.

I'm expecting us to be one of the best in 3 on 3 situations

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

It's hard to predict our season, mainly because of two factors :

1. Blashill. Yes, he coached some of our players at the AHL level. Yes, he won a Calder Cup and was probably regarded as the best coach in the AHL. Can he do it at the NHL-level ? Probably, but how fast and how good is the question and the answer is far from sure. He may, on the other hand, ignite a new spark in the players, and maybe our team even underarchived under Babs strict rule. We just don't know exactly what we will get yet.

2. The Atlantic will be a tight race. We slipped in last year and Ottawa will probably not repeat their Hamburglar run. But Florida is getting stronger and of course you can't count out Boston, despite or even because of their locker room problems. And who knows, maybe Ottawa surprises us again. Nearly everything is possible here.

What is sure is that our young players have another season under their belt, so that will strengthen our team as a whole. We got one of the top free agents this offseason in Green whose playstyle will help the Wings, at the very worst on the third pair. We have a strong goalie tandem that is pretty equal regarding the abilities to keep the puck out of the net. That will result in a overall better goalie performance than last year, which is not an unimportant piece in a tight race for a playoff spot.

All this can result in various results, from missing the playoffs to winning the division title. I take the boring middle lane in predicting that we will make the playoffs via finishing at least third in the Atlantic. How far we can go after that ? Ask me again in April.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Double post.

Edited September 17, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Is the first preseason game in a week gonna be on tv?

[Mason 38]

FSD will have the games on the 23rd and 24th. FSD+ will have the Oct. 2nd game.

[redwingmachine 189]

Is the first preseason game in a week gonna be on tv?

It looks like the 22nd will be on WGN.

[joesuffP 1,746]

Just spitballing here

Abby-Dats-Tatar

Sheahan-Zetterberg-Nyquist

Helm-Richards-Franzen

Miller-Glendening-Jurco

[MrazekFanBoy 223]

Wgn?

[KATIEBARTHEDOOR24 426]

2 more weeks till the season starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good god I can't wait... I got high...

expectations for the season.

I believe this is the season we win a fricken PO series dare I say 2.

[redwingmachine 189]

Wgn?

Chicago WGN TV Station, maybe you don't have it but I thought it was nation wide. The good news is , if it's being broadcast then there should be a stream available (somewhere).