The rebuilding process did not last long for the Detroit Red Wings.
It didn't even take a lockout-shortened season for the Red Wings to make noise in the NHL playoffs a year after they lost Nicklas Lidstrom to retirement.
They surged at the right time of the year, winning their last four regular-season games. That allowed them to make the playoffs, where they defeated the second-seeded Anaheim Ducks and extended the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks to overtime of the seventh game.
If the Red Wings are going to remain a key playoff team as they switch to the Eastern Conference, they are going to need new stars to step forward. They still have established stars in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, along with hip-checking demon Niklas Kronwall, but they need their young players to step up.
The Red Wings have seven young players who will have a chance to make key contributions over the next two seasons.
General manager Ken Holland worked the majority of these players into the lineup last year—something he seemed uncomfortable doing when Lidstrom was still playing and the Red Win ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
Which Young Detroit Red Wings Need to Take Biggest Strides in 2013-14?
September 3rd, 2013 by Steve Silverman Leave a reply »
Advertisement