2010-11 NHL Predictions/Previews: Detroit Red Wings
CappersPicks.com NHL Betting and gambling site provides the BEST Online hockey predictions for you to bet on for the 2010/11 NHL hockey season! Stick with us all season long!
DETROIT RED WINGS
Stanley Cup odds: 11/1
Detroit endured a boatload of change heading into last season. Their offense was hit particularly hard as Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler all bailed out. Not only has Detroit avoided another mass exodus this season, the club even brought in same new faces, possibly giving the Wings the best depth in the NHL.
Mike Modano is the biggest name to join the fold, though he’s far from the most important; though his leadership will be appreciated in the locker room, Modano has seen better years.
Ruslan Salei should be a nice addition to the blue line, though, adding some depth to a very solid group led by two great guys named Niklas—Lidstrom and Kronwall.
Detroit ranked seventh in goals allowed last season, and there’s little reason to believe the team can’t put forth a similar effort this year. Lidstrom and Kronwall form one of the better pairs in the NHL, and Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart are a great tandem behind them.
Of course, a big part of the defensive effort depends on goaltending. Chris Osgood remains with the team despite clearly falling out of favour with the coaching staff; the veteran played just twice after the Olympic break. As such, the reins have officially been turned over to youngster Jimmy Howard.
Howard put up fine enough numbers in his first year as the start, but he still has to prove he can steal games for the Red Wings; at the moment, he simply feels like a solid goalie with a good system around him.
Detroit fell off in scoring last year, dropping all the way to 14th in the NHL. That was partly a product of the aforementioned player departures, but injuries played a role too. Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Valtteri Filppula, Dan Clearey and Kronwall all either missed time or dealt with nagging injuries that affected their performance.
Everyone is healthy now and, when more injuries inevitably occur, Detroit has enough weapons in the cupboard to restock.
One such weapon is Hudler, who returns to the club after spending a year in Russia. The undersized winger isn’t going to win any Rocket Richard trophies, but he is a skilled scoring threat; he potted 23 goals for Detroit in 2008-09 and should find a nice home on the second or third line.
Age didn’t catch up to Detroit last year—player defections did. It wasn’t a problem during the past offseason and, if anything, the Red Wings restocked.
They’re poised to once again compete for the Central Division title and, as usual, the Stanley Cup.
2011 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Sept. 22 — At Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 — Chicago at Joe Louis Arena, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 — at Chicago, TBD
Sept. 26 — N.Y. Rangers at Joe Louis Arena, 5 p.m.
Sept. 29 — at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 — vs. Toronto at Joe Louis Arena, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 — at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 — vs. Pittsburgh at Joe Louis Arena, 5 p.m.
NOTE: To all the Canadians visiting CappersPicks.com today! The Bodog.ca Sportsbook has a particular focus on Canada’s most popular sports: NHL Hockey and CFL Football. CHECK THEM OUT TODAY! CLICK HERE!!
