As the 2022-2023 season comes to a close and the NHL playoffs start again without the Detroit Red Wings participating, it is time to honor the outstanding play of three players who battled through the season.
The Detroit Red Wings playoff drought has now officially reached seven years, and too much of the chagrin of the organization and fan base alike, there have still been strides taken in both skill on the roster and the performance on the ice.
Remember when Detroit was sitting in a wildcard spot, and the excitement for the team was so palpable that you could chew it? Then just days later, losing to Ottawa on back-to-back nights? It seemed like management gave up on the season and capitalized on the mayhem of the trade deadline.
The Red Wings then restocked and reloaded with young talent from within their system, with the likes of Simon Edvinsson and Marco Kasper. This allowed Coach Lalonde to see real NHL minutes from players expected to make the team next year.
But ultimately, they came up short of the running in the eastern conference, as expected. Even teams that cannot make the postseason still have performances from players that can be outstanding.
Because of those in Detroit, the fans were given a more entertaining season than they have had in nearly a decade. Let’s give these three players their proverbial lap around the virtual rink with a souvenir stick. Keep your head on a swivel for flying twigs being launched over the glass.