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| Detroit Red Wings won 62 games in a single season (1995-96) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
To be brutally honest (and probably not the most ardent of Red Wings fan), I'm elated they went that far. Let's face it: Did ANYONE think the Wings would take the Hawks (who won the Presidents' Trophy this year) to the brink of elimination?
This gets me in trouble all the time with how I see things with UND as well but... yeah, the Wings aren't going to hoist the Cup... but I think this season was an overwhelming success looking back on the issues the Wings had to overcome this year. Babcock is truly a great coach.
I thought that, defensively, the Red Wings weren't exactly a force to be reckoned with. I really questioned depth all around at times this shortened season. I also wonder if the season had been a full one, if the Red Wings would have even made the playoffs.
I still think that Datsyuk is one of the best players in the NHL. I'm probably alone in this comparison but... I see a lot of Vladimir Konstantinov (who is probably my favorite Red Wing believe it or not) in Niklas Kronwall. And it sucks to have the dagger that ended the season go off his skate and into the net.
I think Jimmy Howard has REALLY stepped up. Goaltending was a huge concern of mine thanks to a lot of awfulness in the final years of Chris Osgood's career.
The Wings are YOUNG and they aren't as flashy as the young players on the Hawks (as an example). However I think that, if they continue to progress and Babcock remains as effective as he has been, the Wings will be a force to be reckoned with.
And the best news is that the media won't know where they came from. They'll be too busy fawning over the Penguins.
I know this is brief and kindof general but life's been hellish for me and I wasn't able to watch as many games as I would have wanted this year.
Go Wings and let's see a great draft and offseason!
I hope whoever wins, be it the Kings or the Hawks, hoist the Cup.
