The Detroit Red Wings and General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman have had quite the roller coaster of an offseason. Anticipation led to questions, which then led to surprises and good fortune. For the most part, the dust seems to have settled.
The rinks are empty, the beaches are full, and the prices for a tee time at your local golf course have no doubt multiplied. It seems that every summer, hockey fans brew up excitement and unreasonable expectations for whoever their favorite NHL club is. That is certainly true this year for fans of the Detroit Red Wings.
With the depth signings in free agency and arguably the lone blockbuster offseason trade in acquiring Alex DeBrincat, fans in Detroit are salivating at the potential of the 2023-2024 season. The roster has undoubtedly been upgraded from the talent present last season.
However, anything that carries excitement and hope also comes with the chance of disappointment and failure. Accumulating only 80 points last season put Detroit comfortably outside the playoff picture by the end of the season and seventh in the Atlantic Division.
While some fans will say that they expect to watch meaningful games being played in the motor city late into March, the most optimistic of fans will tell you that it is playoffs or bust this season for the Wings. Still, there are three pressing questions heading into the season that need to be answered in order to truly know if the playoffs are within reach for the 2023-24 season.