Bob Duff: Red Wings seek more production from their defensemen New coach Jeff Blashill plans to take some of the shackles off of his rearguard in the hopes of increasing the team's attacking abilities.

Get rid of Ericsson and Quincey then. I don't mind Quincey when paired with DD, but that won't be the case this year. Let Quellet, Marchenko and Kindl battle it out for the bottom pair and we'll have a much more offensive D group.

But it won't happen.

Lets go down the line of offense from the defense:

Ericsson-
Kronwall- is still very capable back there.
Green-should put up the most of any on the defense
Dekeyser- No, hes there to cover Greens ass
Smith- meh, maybe
Kindl- meh, maybe
Quincey- he should be doing more back there.

Lets go down the line of offense from the defense:

Ericsson-
Kronwall- is still very capable back there.
Green-should put up the most of any on the defense
Dekeyser- No, hes there to cover Greens ass
Smith- meh, maybe
Kindl- meh, maybe
Quincey- he should be doing more back there.
- Jurco_28

I almost wouldn't mind Kronwall and Green, with Kronwall being the stay at home guy he should be. And letting Kindl or Smith play with Dekeyser so he can allow them to let the offense flow. But, I'm fine with the defense not putting up points, as long as they keep it out of the net. But if they were going to go that route, this might not be the worst way to go...

with the way they magically draft young snipers and playmakers consistently who cares if their defense creates much offense, they will be fine.

wings wont be the team they were under Babcock....Blashill has his work cut out for him if he thinks that group of D-Men can produce more offensively.

wings wont be the team they were under Babcock....Blashill has his work cut out for him if he thinks that group of D-Men can produce more offensively.
- dannydaoust

they are the same core plus Green? how could it be any worse than what babcock had? I think this team will be better than babcock had gotten out of them in recent past.

they are the same core plus Green? how could it be any worse than what babcock had? I think this team will be better than babcock had gotten out of them in recent past.
- digitalbath

I think he means as a whole they will still be weak offensively. Green certainly helps. But the rest of the core aren't huge point getters. But the defense in general will be better regardless of who's coaching, I think.

I think many will underestimate the Wings this year.

Many of these players already have buy-in as Blashill made them champions at a pro level, also the fact that Blashill is not really "new", with his past assistant experience.

This and the vet core of leaders are still there, with the same guys coming back -- add in Richards and Green, despite their age and lowered expectations, if they can both get to the 40-50pts range will be an improvement over Zidlicky/Weiss by my estimation.

In addition,
the fresh new voice may be a welcomed change in motown.

I think this season will have way more to do with the battle in the crease than anything else... my fear is neither Howard or Mrazek takes ahold of this crease.

I think many will underestimate the Wings this year.

Many of these players already have buy-in as Blashill made them champions at a pro level, also the fact that Blashill is not really "new", with his past assistant experience.

This and the vet core of leaders are still there, with the same guys coming back -- add in Richards and Green, despite their age and lowered expectations, if they can both get to the 40-50pts range will be an improvement over Zidlicky/Weiss by my estimation.

In addition,
the fresh new voice may be a welcomed change in motown.

I think this season will have way more to do with the battle in the crease than anything else... my fear is neither Howard or Mrazek takes ahold of this crease.
- BooBoo997

I have no doubt that the Wings will be fine ....their latest batch of prospects playing in the preseason are very impressive. And its the Wings, who have been in the playoffs for 1/4 or a century if im not mistaken.