Still, I’d be happy if they were picked to finish fourth or lower in the conference.  Coming off the most games played by NHLers over the last two seasons and spending all of last year with the “Stanley Cup champion” target on their backs, not to mention this year’s Olympic schedule, I would say that the longer they can fly under opponents’ radar, the better.  Let some of the other Western Conference teams spend their time as the opponent that people circle on their calendars for a “measuring stick” game.

Besides, it’s funny to watch MSMers backpedal when they try to tell us that they knew all along not to count out the Wings… 

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/07/09 at 11:38 AM ET

And there’s nothing the Winged Wheel has lost – or any other Western Conference team has added – to make me a firm believer the Lidstrom-led legion isn’t still the cream of the West’s crop.

Ain’t gonna argue with that.
But may take it the last step - still the cream of the NHL’s crop.

GO WINGS!!!

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 08/07/09 at 11:50 AM ET

To be fair these are clearly stated as regular season predictions. That probably means San Jose is picked to win when it doesn’t count as usual. I guess they are anticipating a huge step forward from Chicago and maybe the rest of the division as well to keep Detroit from 50 wins? Still anything worse than 3 is completely unreasonable.

Posted by John from Burgh on 08/07/09 at 12:20 PM ET

The demise of the Red Wings has been predicted for what, going on a decade now ? These prophets of doom pre-date the era of blogs. Yet the Evil Empire rolls on.

Posted by mc keeper on 08/07/09 at 12:28 PM ET

I think by most measures “on paper” and based on past performances, the Wings are as good of a team as there is in the league. The difference is that “on paper” there are MORE teams that you could reasonably judge as being at that same level than there have been in past seasons, especially considering the improvement of the Hawks, Blues, and BJs in the Central (and the fact that Nashville is always doggedly good despite financial troubles and the inability to ever sign players).

The more teams with an apparent legit shot, the worse the odds are.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/07/09 at 12:29 PM ET

“Hey, if we keep picking Detroit’s decline every single year for 10 years or more, eventually we’ll be correct, right?”

At this point it’s all this is—peopel figure if they keep picking it eventually it’ll happen and then they can see “SEE!  I called it!” conveniently ignoring the previous 10 or 15 years they’ve called for it and it never happened.

At this point it’s an annual right of summer, like corn growing, county fairs, or San Jose players going on golf trips every May.

Posted by Primis on 08/07/09 at 12:31 PM ET

And there’s nothing the Winged Wheel has lost – or any other Western Conference team has added

I get the whole, “we love our team no matter what” form of thinking, but seriously… HOSSA.

Posted by Gretzky_to_Lemieux on 08/07/09 at 01:11 PM ET

Has anybody out there really read a piece that doesn’t have a Red Wing’s team as a serious contender? I haven’t seen or read one. You know that THN has got to have Detroit (at the very least) in the top three.
This is all to do about nothing. Any clear thinking objective follow of hockey knows that the Detroit Red Wings will be a very strong contender this season and the next five after.
Maybe Fraser is mad because THN wouldn’t let him participate in the prediction meeting and is trying to drum-up some kind of controversy.

Posted by Lindas1st on 08/07/09 at 01:19 PM ET

I don’t think its unreasonable to have Detroit out of the top 3 for regular season behind Calgary, San Jose, and Chicago, but seriously, when it comes playoff time, we all know who the favorite is. Barring a huge post-season upset the Wings will AT LEAST make it to the Conference finals.

Posted by Kstewy16 on 08/07/09 at 01:35 PM ET

I get the whole, “we love our team no matter what” form of thinking, but seriously… HOSSA.

If Marian had played in the playoffs like he did in the regular season, his loss would be a lot greater than it is. But the bottom line is that the 2009-2010 Wings are shaping up to be every bit as good as the team that won the Cup in 2008.

Yes, there are some “ifs” in that scenario. If Helm, Leino, Ericsson and Abdelkader play as well as they have in their rather brief appearances with the Wings. If Williams shows he hasn’t lost his scoring touch but has picked up a bit of grit since he left the Wings three years ago. If Eaves can pop in 15 goals playing on the 3rd and 4th lines. And if Ozzie can bring at least a portion his playoff mentality to the regular season.

Personally, I think every one of those “ifs” has a decent chance of happening. We’ll see.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 08/07/09 at 01:47 PM ET

The Central Division is so vastly improved that it can no longer be considered “The Doormat” for the Wings - much less the NHL.  The big name additions of Bouwmeester in Calgary; Hossa, Madden, and Kopecky in Chicago; Khabibulin in Edmonton; and Lupul in Anaheim as well as the ridiculous soap opera in Phoenix all contributed to a relatively quiet summer for the Wings in terms of SIGNING the big name free agents.  I think Holland has a few tricks left in his arsenal.

I like the relative obscurity.  I hope we have something like the 1997 Cup in which the Wings were fourth in the West and sixth overall in the NHL.  We’d still make the playoffs for the 20th year in a row but as J.J. says, we’d be in the playoff party in a quiet way.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 08/07/09 at 01:51 PM ET

I don’t think its unreasonable to have Detroit out of the top 3 for regular season behind Calgary, San Jose, and Chicago

You could probably get away with throwing Anaheim in there too.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/07/09 at 01:53 PM ET

The Central Division is so vastly improved that it can no longer be considered “The Doormat” for the Wings - much less the NHL..

See, the funny thing about that is… in 2007-2008, everyone said the Detroit Red Wings won the President’s Trophy playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NHL.  While that’s true, the Wings had a better record out of conference than in and, if I’m not mistaken, were actually swept by the Hawks, right?  At best they won a single game against them.

The Wings are a great team and have been for a long time.  All leagues, and teams, ebb and flow.  The Wings will eventually, too, so media predict it as it’s a relatively safe prediction in that there’ll be little backlash when they’re proven wrong.

And on a completely different front that I doubt sportswriters are forward-thinking enough of, it makes for a better storyline when they show “unexpected resilience, big contributions from important and unheralded players and manage to scrape their way into contention when everyone wrote them off for dead.”

Posted by shanetx on 08/07/09 at 02:18 PM ET

The Jackets are just one puck-moving defenseman away from truly serious contention and the ever over-achieving Predators remain a thorn in the Wings side and if they get any more scoring with that sandpaper they play with, they’re gonna surprise everyone.  And the BBBBs have a core of young guys I really like.  Chicago, Hossa.  ‘Nuff said.

The Central Division is all grown up.  It’s faster, bigger, and more skilled than ever before.  I like it.  I welcome it.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 08/07/09 at 02:30 PM ET

Eh, I just refuse to see the Flames as a serious threat. Maybe it’s because they’ve wilted every year since the season they made it to the finals. And maybe it’s because everyone’s acting like adding a relatively unproven D-man to the mix has been the missing ingredient.

Honestly, I see the Hawks and Blues as bigger threats to Detroit than any other clubs in the West, including San Jose. They have their own skeletons to deal with, just like Calgary, before anyone can and should take them seriously. At least with Chicago and St. Louis the talent is so young an energetic that last season’s playoff failures can be considered necessary growing pains instead of embarrassing flameouts.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 08/07/09 at 03:36 PM ET

The Jackets are just one puck-moving defenseman away from truly serious contention

Please, one?  Their d-corps is terrible.  They need a puck mover and still about 2 other good solid defensive d-men.  Mason can’t save their bacon every single game…  look at how well that worked for the Sabres with Hasek for most of his career there..

Posted by Primis on 08/07/09 at 03:38 PM ET

and yet…all that matters is who chokes and who doesn’t.  The canucks, flames, stars, and sharks all choke (the big one…hehe)...the red wings never really choke in the playoffs.  So I’d say that it doesn’t matter where the red wings finish as long as they make the playoffs (which is pretty much guaranteed), but honestly this may be the year that those contracts for marginal players really end up hurting them (Maltby, Draper, Holmstrom, etc.).  Some times teams just have to look at the writing on the wall and cut the dead weight.

Posted by stoneman from vegas on 08/07/09 at 09:58 PM ET

I disagree with the Jackets assessment…this is not a cohesive team.  It’s a mismash of cast off players from other teams and streaky players (see Nash).  Mason is impressive though…but I don’t think he’s enough to keep the team afloat with the type of offense and (lack of) defense they have.  The most comparatively complete team in the West is the Blackhawks…incredible level of (drafted) talent throughout the lineup and huet is likely better than he’s given credit for, crawford (if he backs up huet) is probably a 1st tier backup goalie for the time being.  The only problem with the hawks is that there is no offense “buy in” to play defense; never a good thing. 

I wouldn’t place any bets on the standings come playoff time but I’m guessing these teams make it: Wings, Hawks, Nucks, Wild, Blues, Flames, Ducks, and Sharks.  I’m kind of pulling for the Yotes to snag a playoff spot but know it won’t happen.  It’s possible the Jackets and Preds make a push and oust a 6-8th-er but the teams have too many problems to go far in the playoffs.

Posted by stoneman from vegas on 08/07/09 at 10:17 PM ET