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Twenty games into the 2023-24 campaign, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 7-10-3 record and only 17 points. As the team approaches the quarter mark of the season, it's an opportune moment to separate fact from fiction with a round of Two Truths and a Lie.
Truth: The Red Wings Can't Seem to Get Over the Hump
On a micro level, Detroit has performed better than many anticipated. The team boasts a goals-against average of 3.0 per game, tied for 11th in the NHL, largely due to a structural shift to a 1-3-1 on-ice formation that has bolstered their overall defense. This adjustment has kept the Red Wings within striking distance in numerous contests. However, a 3-7 record in their last ten games tells a different story. In just two weeks, Detroit has plummeted from a near-.500 record and two games out of a playoff spot to dead last in the division. The margin for error has always been slim, and in November, the Red Wings have compounded their mistakes, failing to secure victories as they did earlier in the year.
Truth: Contract Stalemates Need Resolution Sooner Rather Than Later
The ongoing contract situations involving Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson have become a tired narrative, but they demand urgent attention. The longer these standoffs drag on, the more they complicate future negotiations in Detroit, as players across the league witness the bitter spectacle. The Red Wings need more production from their current roster. Their blue line leans heavily on Moritz Seider, who logs over 25 minutes per night alongside two rookie defensemen who have exceeded expectations. If the relationship with Edvinsson is irreparably damaged, it represents a generational mismanagement of assets. However, letting him walk for nothing if he doesn't sign by December 1 would be equally detrimental, as his trade value is unlikely to increase without NHL playing time. As for Larkin, the team averages 2.58 goals per game and holds a 5-2-3 record with him in the lineup, compared to 2-8 without him. In the first five games of November, Detroit scored just eight goals, five of which came from their top six forwards. Trading Larkin could net the Red Wings pieces to at least reach double-digit wins before month's end.
Lie: It's Time to Call Up All the Griffins
While the Red Wings have stumbled, the Grand Rapids Griffins sit atop the AHL. Longtime forward and Michigan native Dominik Shine (8 goals, 10 assists) and rookie Carter Bear (5 goals, 13 assists) lead the AHL with 18 points each. Finnish rookie Jesse Kiiskinen is close behind with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 15 games, and Dylan James has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists). However, fans clamoring to see these prospects in Detroit should reconsider. Burying them in the bottom six would limit their minutes and puck opportunities, hindering their development. Look at Michael Brandsegg-Nygård: last year, he managed just one point in 14 games with Detroit before being sent down to Grand Rapids, where he tallied 44 points in 60 regular-season games on the top line. This year, the Norwegian winger has brought a physical presence to Detroit's top six, recording 10 points in 20 games while leading all NHL rookies (and the Red Wings) in hits. The Red Wings must allow their prospects to develop without the pressure of the NHL too soon. That said, Michal Postava is an exception—Detroit should call him up for more opportunities in net at the top level.
Originally reported by yahoo.