Thursday, November 19, 2015

Detroit Red Wings: Will The Streak Stop at 24?

Generational talent have come easy for the Detroit Red Wings.In the past 20 years alone, Steve Yzerman, Brian Shanahan, Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov, Manny Legace, Chris Osgood, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Kronwall, and recently Dylan Larkin (19), Andreas Athanasiou (21), Anthony Mantha, and the hopeful Evgeni Svechnikov (18). Notice how most of these players aren't American, nor Canadian. Obviously the scouting staff in Detroit has gotten lucky with the past couple years, drafting Mantha in 2013 at 15th overall in the 1st, Larkin with 14th overall in the 2014 draft, Anthanasiou at 23rd in the 2013 draft, Tomas Tatar at 60th in the 2009 draft, Gustav Nyquist, 121st in the 2008 draft, and recently, Svechnikov at 18th last June. The older players like Nyquist, Tatar, and Abdelkader had to prove themselves, and they did, becoming franchise players by the age of 24. Younger players like Larkin, Mantha, Svechnikov, and Athanasiou still have yet to prove themselves. Larkin this season has 13 points in 19 games. He definitely has talent, but he needs to keep consistency, as he's the first Red Wing teenager since Yzerman. Anthanasiou also had his rookie debut as  he has 1 goal in 6 games. Svechnikov is no doubt ready for this league as his size promotes him as captain of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles down in the QMJHL (6-2, 199lbs), but there was no room as they brought up Michigan native, Dylan Larkin instead. Larkin had 47 points in 35 games at the University of Michigan. Anthony Mantha still has yet to make his NHL debut. We'd have thought by now he would've. I guess NHL 14 was wrong with Mantha being 85 overall by now, when in NHL 16 he's at the unlucky number of 78 overall. He could still be called up anytime though, being 20 years of age. Svechnikov is coming off of a great rookie season with the Screaming Eagles. He had 32 goals, 46 assists, 78 points, in just 55 games. I'm surprised he didn't go sooner. As I was watching the draft, I was personally hoping the Wings would draft Travis Koneckny (Philadelphia, Ottowa 67's), as I didn't know Svechnikov at the time, and I was confused why they did it, but I saw video of this kid and he turns out to be legit.I just hope he can play soon in the NHL.
Now off of rookies, let's go to current players. Justin Adbelkader possibly had one of the greatest starts to a season he might ever get. He got a hat-trick against Toronto in his 1st game of the season. He's died down a bit since then. He has 5g, 4a, in only 19 games played. Henrik Zetterberg has 15 points in 19 games played after being a PPG player up till recently. Dastyuk being back has been a game changer, so people thought. Datsyuk has only 1 assist in 4 games after having Ankle Surgery in May. He definitely is at the end of his career, sadly.
The team is definitely struggling, which sucks, but streaks have to end. But, I do say I've seen tonnes of positive, and it's too early in the season, so my prediction is, the streak will continue to 25 this year.

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