The Detroit Red Wings have hit the mid-way mark in their schedule. The team is much improved over last year and currently have a record of 18-17-6. The Red Wings have an impressive 13-6-3 record at home, good for 8th overall in league standings. Detroit’s dismal record of 5-11-3 on the road places them 28th out of 32 teams in the NHL.
Here is a look at my player grades for the Red Wings at mid-season.
Goaltenders
Grade: B+
Alex Nedeljkovic has been an excellent addition to the rebuilding Red Wings. Last year, Nedeljkovic was a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. After a trade to the Red Wings during the offseason, Nedeljkovic has continuously kept the Red Wings in games this year. At mid-season, Nedeljkovic has a record of 12-10-5, with a 2.78 GAA, and a .916 SV%. All of these statistics are slightly down from his rookie campaign last year in Carolina. Nedeljkovic is now firmly the #1 goaltender in Hockeytown and he has one more year left on his current contract before he can become an UFA.
Thomas Greiss
Grade: C+
Thomas Greiss has remained a steady, if unspectacular, goaltender for the Red Wings. He is now the Red Wings backup goaltender and currently has a record of 6-7-1, with a 3.36 GAA, and an .894 SV%. Greiss turns 36 next weekend and will be an UFA at the end of this season.