With the Red Wings beginning their 8-game exhibition season tonight in Pittsburgh vs. the Penguins, it seems like an opportune time to ponder ten questions of this Red Wing squad that will be asked and hopefully answered over the course of the next few weeks leading up to their season opener on October 7th when they host the Ottawa Senators.
1) Will Cory Emmerton finally make good on his opportunity to become a Red Wing?
Emmerton, a 2006 2nd round draft pick has the inside track on the final available roster spot after three unspectacular seasons in Grand Rapids. He will have to hold off Fabian Brunnstrom, Ryan Johnston and Chris Conner to remain in Detroit. Only a horrific exhibition season will rob him of that spot.
2) Do Jakub Kindl or Brendan Smith solidify a top-six spot on the blueline this season?
Unless Smith has a camp that gives the Wings no choice but to keep him over Mike Commodore, he will likely return to Grand Rapids for one more season of 20+ minutes and the first call-up (alongside Doug Janik) to Detroit if an injury strikes the blueline.
Kindl showed improvement in his first NHL season and should have the inside track on the 6th d-man spot to play alongside Jonathan Ericsson, Ian White or possibly even Nicklas Lidstrom.
3) Does Jiri Hudler have any chance of finishing the season in Detroit?
After a horrible return from his one-year hiatus to the KHL, Hudler enters a contract year with his NHL career hanging in the balance. There is no questioning his natural talent and skill level. However, his production tailed off considerably last season after a 57 point season in 2008-09. There should be no greater motivator than a substantial decline in pay following this season if he doesn’t play well enough to warrant keeping that $2.875 million/year salary.
4) When will Valteri Filppula finally take the leap and become a bonafide Top 6 NHL forward?
This question seems as if it has been asked every September for the past 3 seasons. Filppula has averaged 39 points over the past 4 seasons. Can he ever become a consistent 60 point producer in the NHL? He will likely get that chance if he plays alongside Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen for the duration of the season.
5) Will Ian White be able to fill in for Brian Rafalski?
The 27 year-old White is likely not as skilled offensively as Rafalski, but was known as a power-play specialist early on in his career due to his booming slap-shot. Similar in stature to Rafalski, he’s known for being stronger and playing with more of an edge. Considering the lack of an impact Rafalski had towards the tail end of the season due to his deteriorating body, White should step in help ease the loss of Rafalski. In addition, the continued emergence of Kronwall and Ericsson will assist in this endeavour.
6) Can Justin Abdelkader score 20 goals this season?
Coming off a 7 goal, 19 point season last year in his second season with the Red Wings, Abdelkader will likely be afforded an opportunity to increase his offensive production with time on the team’s third line and possibly some time on the occasional power-play providing the “Holmstrom-like” net presence. Abdelkader does have enough touch around the net to easily double his goal production this season and the goal should be to aspire for 20 goals to help provide the new wave of “secondary” scoring to this lineup.
7) What will be the impact of new assistant coaches Bill Peters and Jeff Blashill?
It will be interesting to see the influence these two younger coaches bring to the table to an accomplished coach like Mike Babcock. In addition, you have to suspect their enthusiasm should be a positive influence in the dressing room. Peters, in particular appears to be a head coach in training following his successful stint as the head man in Rockford of the AHL (Chicago’s affiliate). Will they help improve the mediocre defensive play of the Red Wings over the past couple seasons?
8) Will one of the Red Wings forward prospects see extensive time in Detroit?
Likely not unless the injury bug strikes again. That being said, Coach Babcock has been raving about the talents of
Gustav Nyquist. Although
Tomas Tatar is likely further along in his development and perhaps would receive the call to Detroit before any other young forward in Grand Rapids, Nyquist appears ready to prosper in Grand Rapids this season and prepare himself to make a legitimate run at a roster spot in 2012-13.
Then again, it would only take one roster move/trade to free up a spot for a talented young forward to jump into the lineup soon enough.
9) Is Ty Conklin still a reliable back-up?
Two years ago in Detroit he was a great back-up. Last season in St. Louis he was a horrible back-up. Was it because of the team in front of him, or is father time catching up to Conklin?
10) Can Nicklas Lidstrom continue to put up offensive numbers for one more season?
Although I believe it will be difficult for Lidstrom to duplicate his numbers from last season, there is no questioning he can still spearhead the team’s powerplay and put up 45-50 points. It also will be probable that his ice-time will be slightly lower as Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart take over the reigns as the team’s top defensive pairing. As evidenced in last year’s playoffs, Lidstrom’s days as a primary penalty killer are over.
Nevertheless, the offense and experience he can provide on the backend while mentoring the young Red Wing blueliners while chasing one final chance to lift the Stanley Cup should be motivation enough to see the Captain go out with one more stellar season.
************************************************************************
PRESEASON OPENER TONIGHT
The Red Wings open up at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Game time is 7:00pm ET. The game against the Penguins will be shown live on the NHL Network at 7 p.m.
Projected Forward Lines
Danny Cleary-Pavel Datsyuk-Patrick Eaves
Drew Miller-Cory Emmerton-Tomas Holmstrom
Jiri Hudler-Ryan Johnson-Fabian Brunnstrom
Tomas Tatar-Chris Conner-Jan Mursak
*Eaves continues to likely see time in the coveted spot alongside Datsyuk and Cleary, although Jiri Hudler might also get some time to show his stuff on the Wings top line. Hudler has had good chemistry playing with this pair in the past. It is vital he gets off to a good start.
*Cory Emmerton gets an opportunity to centre the 2nd line between Miller and Holmstrom.
*It’s become evident in training camp that Tomas Holmstrom is going to be hard pressed to keep his top six spot alongside Pavel Datsyuk this season. Finally being pegged as a role player, who can specialize on the power play.
Projected Defensive Pairings:
Niklas Kronwall-Brad Stuart
Brendan Smith-Mike Commodore
Garnet Exelby-Logan Pyett
*Smith and Commodore play alongside each other tonight to begin the quest for the battle for the 6th and 7th d-man spot in Detroit, (along with Jakub Kindl).
*Kronwall and Stuart are likely to remain paired for a significant portion of the season and are the Red Wings’ top defensive pairing.
*Exelby and Pyett will attempt to solidify their chemistry for a likely pairing to be used in Grand Rapids.
Goaltenders:
Jimmy Howard
Joey MacDonald
*Howard will likely get the start despite missing some time in Traverse City with a foot injury.
************************************************************************
Lastly, a fond farewell to Mike Modano, who
announced his retirement today via Facebook and will hold a press conference on Friday. Although his one season with Detroit did not go as he had planned with a serious wrist injury and then being a healthy scratch during the majority of the post-season, it should not tarnish his distinguished career as one of the most accomplished American hockey players ever.
Congratulations to Modano on a phenomenal career and enjoy your retirement!!!
[email protected]
Make sure to follow Mark on Twitter! 
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»