One To Watch: Detroit Red Wings

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A new conference and new, lower expectations are a couple of storylines for the Detroit Red Wings these days. No one is picking the Wings as Stanley Cup contenders anymore. In fact, there are some who wonder if a playoff spot might be in question and that seems odd attached to an organization that has been at the top for so long. 

One thing that does remain consistent in Motown is the courage to draft players other teams get cold feet on. While some questioned his hockey sense, Detroit looked at Anthony Mantha and saw 50 goals. Mitch Wheaton missed much of the season but the Wings take the chance on a 6'5, 230 lb blueliner. 

It's not the first year; A concussed Martin Frk in 2012. The penalty and suspension magnet named Mike McKee. Injury plagued Marek Tvrdon and Landon Ferraro.

The Red Wings are willing to look past junior level "flaws" and focus on the underlying positives that can be polished and developed as a pro. 

2012 Choice: Ryan Sproul - The talk after the 2012 draft was that had there been another month or two in the regular season, Sproul may have been a first rounder. Last year I asked if the defenceman could live up to those expectations and take a larger than normal step forward in his development. He ended the year with 66 points in 50 games and was named the CHL Defenceman of the Year.

My choice for Detroit's One to Watch in 2013-14 is after the jump.

One To Watch: Detroit Red Wings

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I really wanted to go with Brendan Smith here but with 14 games in the NHL last year and the door wide open for him with the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom and departure of Brad Stuart, it seemed too easy. In my opinion, the former Wisconsin defenceman should be a full time NHLer in 2012-13. 

I could have gone with one of a pair of forwards in Tomas Tatar or Landon Ferraro. I considered Czech netminder Peter Mrazek who made a name for himself in Edmonton during the 2012 WJC. But I didn't.

Instead I went with a player drafted a couple of years ago who was considered a guy who had just begun to scratch the surface of his true potential. He wasn't a first round selection but there were some who believed that had the season been a month longer, this player may very well have heard his name on day one of the NHL draft. 

Hemsky, Smyth and Possible Returns

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The NHL Trade Deadline is exactly two weeks away. You'll be able to follow the day's events live as they happen in Edmonton on the TEAM 1260 as every on air guy at the station, including The Pipeline Show, will be a part of the festivities on February 27th.

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to be active and according to TPS weekly guest Daren Millard from Sportsnet, two forwards in particular are expected to move and both might be gone before the 27th.

We spoke with Daren on Saturday morning and in talking about Ales Hemsky and Ryan Smyth, the NHL Insider offered up possible destinations which opens the door to speculation on possible returns.

21st - Detroit Red Wings Draft Preview

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The winged-wheel is as recognizable a team logo as there is in the NHL and maybe in all of professional sports. Like Montréal, it's hard to imagine the club not having that emblem on their chests as they take to the ice. However, this is the crest that Detroit wore during the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field and I have to admit that I quite like it. Again, simplicity works and the expansion USHL team in Dubuque Iowa must agree because they've adopted something very similar to this for their uniforms next year.

Red Wings Prospect Snap Shot

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The winged wonders have won the the 3rd most Stanley Cups in the NHL behind only original six cousins Montreal and Toronto. They’ve made the post season an astonishing 18 years in a row, but that’s not to say the organization hasn’t seen it’s fare share of lean seasons. From 1967-1983 they played past the regular season just twice, and went past the first round only once in 19 years at one point. Detroit gets a ton of credit for drafting guys like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk in later rounds, but even Red Wing scouts have admitted in the past that they were lucky to get those players when they did.

As for who might join Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the next few years, here’s a snap shot of the Red Wings top prospects.