Go through the gallery above to view Ted Kulfan’s final grades for the 2020-21 Detroit Red Wings. Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the gallery.
Detroit — The record was better, the product on the ice was improved.
No, the Red Wings aren’t going to the playoffs. That streak has now reached five seasons.
But when you watched the Wings often enough, you saw a team that was much more competitive than a year ago, and showed promise for the future.
The Wings finished 19-27-10, ahead of Columbus by virtue of more victories. But after a 4-12-3 start, due in large part to a lineup ravaged by COVID-19, the Wings finished 15-15-7 in the final 37 games, despite key injuries late up and down the lineup.
The Wings were a harder team to play against, and bought in to coach Jeff Blashill’s desire to play a defensive system.
Here are the full-season individual grades, based on expectations for each player heading into this pandemic-ridden, anything-but-normal season.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan