In Red Wings Land
Detroit Red Wings hit jackpot in 2014 NHL draft with Dylan Larkin | Freep
Dylan Larkin rules. I was worried after his sophomore slump of a season, but he impressed in his junior campaign. Really looking forward to seeing what he has in store for his senior year.
Around the League
Down Goes Brown: Which non-playoff teams could make 2018–19 final four? | Sportsnet
Why they could make it: They have one advantage over the other teams in this section, in that they’re not in the middle of a rebuild and don’t seem to want to start one. We could debate whether that’s the right direction for the team, but if they hold onto their veterans, there’s some decent talent here. Maybe that’s enough.
Why they won’t: It’s not enough. The Red Wings have questionable goaltending, an old core, and nowhere near enough young talent on the way to patch the holes. Maybe they fix some of that in the summer, but it’s not like Ken Holland’s recent off-season track record is all that strong.
Why they could make it: The young kids all make a big jump. Larkin becomes an elite center and puts up 80 points, Anthony Mantha scores 40 goals, Michael Rasmussen transitions very quickly to the NHL level and Filip Hronek becomes that good, young defenseman this team really needs.
Why they won’t: Pretty much what Sean McIndoe said.
