The WIIM Bandwagoner’s Guide to the Playoffs
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It’s that time of the year.again.
Is it bad that I’m becoming numb to missing the playoffs? Probably. Am I glad we aren’t floundering in the first round year after year? Definitely. Do I still hunger for playoff action? Without a doubt.
The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs start today. For fans of hockey, this is the most exciting time of the year. For Red Wings fans, this time of the year has become a collective shrug. Playoff hockey is exciting, but it’s much less fun when your team isn’t in it. With that being said, this is the perfect time of the year to temporarily bandwagon one of the 16 teams in the playoffs. Get a little taste of the action (but don’t forget your loyalties) with this all-in-one pain-free playoff guide:
Red Wings 2021 final grades: Progress due to defensive improvement
Today 6:01 AM
Playing in a nearly empty Little Caesars Arena during this COVID-affected season exemplified how strange 2021 was for the NHL and the Red Wings. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
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Nobody scored more than 11 goals in games played with the Red Wings.
Their goals per game was marginally better at 2.23 (from 2.00) but the power play worse.
They still improved in points percentage, from .275 to .429, due to better team defense and solid goaltending.
The Red Wings (19-27-10) finished with nine more points (48) in 15 fewer games than in 2019-20 (17-49-5), despite a rash of injuries and COVID-related absences to key players.
Red Wings’ Steve Yzerman has long to-do list this offseason
Posted May 10, 2021
Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has a lot of players to sign this offseason. (Ansar Khan/MLive)
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Now that Steve Yzerman’s second season as Detroit Red Wings general manager is over, the bulk of his work begins.
Yzerman has many items to cross off his checklist before players gather for training camp in mid-to-late September, in preparation for an NHL regular season that will start a week later than usual, on Oct. 12.
One task, figures to be completed quickly, as Yzerman indicated last month he will speak with coach Jeff Blashill immediately after the season to discuss his future.
Red Wings To-Do List: Find More Offense!!!!
With the Detroit Red Wings season now concluded (last Saturday night in a 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus on the road), we now turn towards a key off-season for GM Steve Yzerman.
The team is obviously better than last year s train wreck (17-49-5). They finished with 48 points (19-27-10) and the goaltending and defense was markedly better than the 2019-20 season.
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But now, they need to take the next step. They need to be a playoff team next season (or damn close to it). How to get it?? You see the title..FIND MORE OFFENSE!!!!
Red Wings wrap up season seeking to avoid Central cellar
Updated May 08, 2021;
Posted May 08, 2021
Detroit Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula, left, controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, May 7, 2021. The Red Wings won 5-2. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
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The Detroit Red Wings wrap up what has been one of the most bizarre seasons in NHL history tonight in Columbus, needing one point to avoid the Central Division cellar.
The Red Wings (19-27-9) are one point ahead of the Blue Jackets (17-26-12) and hold the tie-breaker (more regulation wins), so if the teams finish tied, Detroit, technically, would be in seventh place and Columbus eighth.