The 2018-19 Detroit Red Wings season officially kicked off with the 2018 NHL
Prospect Tournament, which began Sept. 7 in Traverse City. After another long
summer, Red Wings hockey is finally here.

#RedWings prospects pick up the W tonight in Traverse City! Game three against
the Rangers is Monday at 4:00 PM. #DRWPT #LGRW

🚨: @mrasmussen16 (2) & @dcholowski27
≡ƒÄ: @mrasmussen16, @webb_reilly, @filip_zadina, @jveleno91, @dcholowski27
pic.twitter.com/u51Nhpw4Id

- Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 9, 2018

As the organization's rebirth progresses, the 2018-19 season will be a critical
 one for the development of Detroit's core pieces and prospects. After signing
a lucrative contract extension, the Red Wings are hoping franchise center Dylan
 Larkin takes a step forward in his fourth NHL season. The same can be said for
 Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi, and many players in their
prospect pipeline.

As the final installment of the 2018 Red Wings Summer Rebuild Series, let's
take a look at the upcoming season-from start to finish-and examine the
stories, players, development focuses, and rebuild opportunities of the 2018-19
 Red Wings season.

Red Wings Final Grades - ForwardsRed Wings Final Grades - Defense & GoaliesRed
Wings 2018 Prospect Update2018 Red Wings Draft PreviewRed Wings Free Agent
Priorities & TargetsRed Wings Prospects: Rankings & Analysis

Red Wings Preseason Storylines

After much speculation, it appears that Detroit's captain will not return for a
 16th season with the Red Wings. Henrik Zetterberg has likely played his last
game with the Red Wings due to lingering back issues.Red Wings center Henrik
Zetterberg may be forced to retire due to chronic back issues. (Raj Mehta-USA
TODAY Sports)

In his place, Jeff Blashill and Ken Holland are hoping that Frans Nielsen,
Thomas Vanek, and Justin Abdelkader can pick up the slack from a leadership
standpoint. Offensively, the Red Wings will lean on Larkin more and give
Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina long looks to make the roster out of
training camp. The two top prospects have tremendous potential, but will need
to earn their stay in the Motor City. They'll also have a direct impact on the
rest of the roster.

Martin Frk, David Pope, Evgeny Svechnikov, Dominic Turgeon, and Luke Witkowski
are all on the bubble this fall. It will be an uphill battle for them to make
the team, let alone earn ice time. Expect Frk and Witkowski to lock down the
last two roster spots, with the others playing significant roles in Grand
Rapids.

Finally, the Red Wings will need to decide on their No. 6/7 defenseman. Filip
Hronek is the clubhouse leader at the moment, but one of Dennis Cholowski, Joe
Hicketts, or Libor Sulak could separate themselves from the pack by the end of
the preseason. Given his power play expertise and right-handed shot, Hronek
should stick with Detroit for the upcoming season, with another defensive
prospect or two joining later on.Related: 42 Red Wings Prospects & What to Know
 About ThemAddressing the Salary Cap

At the moment, the Red Wings are over the salary cap upper limit with a few
prospects still needing to be added to the NHL roster. Placing Johan Franzen
and Henrik Zetterberg on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) would bring the team
into compliance with the cap and even give the Red Wings some wiggle room to
accrue salary cap space for the trade deadline.Johan Franzen will be on the Red
 Wings'; payroll for another year beyond this season. (Photo Credit: Andy
Martin Jr)

But what if Zetterberg shocks us all and is able to play later on this season?
In that case, the Red Wings would need to bury Martin Frk and his $1.05M cap
hit in the AHL and carry only 22 skaters to stay under the $79.5 million upper
limit. To clear room for a 23rd skater, Holland would need to ship some salary
out for picks or prospects.

But given the way that the Zetterberg updates have been trending, the Red Wings
 should be fine salary cap-wise with their long-time captain on LTIR.Red Wings
Opening Night Lineup

Based on Zetterberg's status, comments from Blashill, and previous line
combinations, here's what you can expect for Detroit's lineup when they take on
 Columbus to open the 2018-19 season next month. Keep in mind that injuries can
 occur during training camp and the preseason, so they lines could change
between now and then.

Projected Red Wings Opening Night Forward Lineup

LWCRW

Anthony ManthaDylan LarkinGustav Nyquist

Tyler BertuzziFrans NielsenFilip Zadina

Thomas VanekAndreas AthanasiouMichael Rasmussen

Justin AbdelkaderLuke GlendeningDarren Helm

Martin Frk

Luke Witkowski

Projected Red Wings Opening Night Defense & Goalies

LDRDG

Jonathan EricssonMike GreenJimmy Howard

Danny DeKeyserTrevor DaleyJonathan Bernier

Niklas KronwallFilip Hronek

Nick Jensen

Up front, Larkin will step into Zetterberg's old shoes (skates?) as Detroit's
No. 1 center. He'll be a core member of the penalty kill and power play as
well.

Beyond Larkin, the rest of the top-nine will likely change throughout the
season. Vanek could move to Nielsen's wing. Helm may move to center at some
point if Athanasiou continues to struggle in the faceoff circles. Zadina could
be sent down to Grand Rapids as to not burn a year off of his entry-level
contract.How will Andreas Athanasiou handle playing center full-time? (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

In essence, Detroit's forwards should look to achieve some sort of consistency
early on because they'll be moving around in the lineup a lot otherwise. If the
 season is not going according to plan, Blashill will look to find wins
somewhere, even if that's putting together one effective line that gels and can
 be deployed the following season and beyond.

On defense, you can expect to see DeKeyser and Daley matching up mostly with
the tougher assignments. The Red Wings need DeKeyser especially to step up
defensively and play the role that the organization had envisioned when the
blueliner was signed to a six-year, $30 million contract.

Ericsson and Green will also see some high-impact minutes, but start most of
their shifts in the offensive zone, where the latter is much stronger than the
rest of Detroit's defensemen. The third-pairing-some combination of Kronwall,
Hronek, and Jensen-will play sheltered minutes as well since all three have
strengths and weaknesses to their respective games.

In net, Howard will enter the season as the starter, but will end up splitting
duties with Bernier. Blashill will ride whichever goalie is hot as to not wear
either veteran down. Both would benefit from a healthy competition and
additional time to recover and prepare for their next game.Griffins & Potential
 Call-Ups

Even if Zadina and Hronek start make the Red Wings out of training camp, the
Griffins will still have a stacked lineup. Here's how their lines could shape
up:

Projected Griffins Opening Night Forward Lineup

LWCRW

Chris TerryWade MeganEvgeny Svechnikov

Matt PuempelDominic TurgeonCarter Camper

David PopeAxel HolmstromGivani Smith

Matthew FordChristoffer EhnDominik Shine

Dylan SadowyTurner ElsonColin Campbell

Projected Griffins Opening Night Defense & Goalies

LDRDG

Dennis CholowskiJoe HickettsHarri Sateri

Brian LashoffVili SaarijarviPatrik Rybar

Libor SulakDylan McIlrath

Jake CheliosMarcus Crawford

The Hockey Writers colleague Rachel Anderson-who covers the Griffins
extensively-noted a few players as the most likely to be called up in case of
an injury in Detroit:

Among the available forwards, it's likely that Evgeny Svechnikov-entering the
third season of his entry level contract-will get a recall first. Svechnikov
experienced a sophomore slump during the 2017-18 season, but picked up his game
 before the campaign ended. The elder forward has a very powerful stride and a
deadly shot - if he's accurate. He has excellent vision, but gets lost in his
frustrations from time to time. If he's able to start strong and shows steady
improvement, the Red Wings will likely give him a shot.Evgeny Svechnikov may
have to start the year in Grand Rapids. (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Dominic Turgeon is another skater who has been drawing quite a bit of
attention. He's a strong center and is does a remarkable job on the penalty
kill and power play units for Grand Rapids. Detroit's special teams are
lackluster as of late and the speed and energy of Turgeon would pair
wonderfully with the other younger skaters currently with the Red Wings. He's
smart with the puck and handles pressure well - Turgeon is not easily
frustrated on the ice, which is a benefit to him and an irritant to his
opponents.

On defense, Joe Hicketts is among my favorite defensemen. He plays a strong and
 confident game. Entering his final season of his entry-level contract, the Red
 Wings have to decide what to do with the 23-year-old. Given his recent
seasons, he will make himself hard to ignore during the preseason this year. As
 a rookie, Hicketts played a crucial role for the Griffins during the 2016-17
regular season, tallying 34 points and contributing mightily during the Calder
Cup victory for Grand Rapids. He was an anchor for the defensive unit during
the 2017-18 season as well. Hicketts made a great first impression by earning
two points during his NHL debut last season.

Considering the depth in their lineup, the Griffins should contend for a
division title. Another Calder Cup wouldn't be out of the question either
considering their combination of veteran AHL scorers and high-end prospects.
Overall, the 2018-19 season is definitely one to be bullish on Detroit's top
farm team.In-Season Development

Above all else, the Red Wings need to improve their team defense. Blashill's
"Process" is mocked frequently, but is the key to a successful team.

If the Red Wings can minimize their mental mistakes and play a consistent,
highly aggressive game, their speed and relentless back-checking can partially
make up for their lack of talent. This is how the Vegas Golden Knights attacked
 teams en route to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.Is this Jeff Blashill';s
last season in Detroit? (James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)

Buying into Blashill's system is crucial. Too many times last season, the coach
 described players as taking a few shifts off or missing assignments. Complete
buy-in from everyone ensures that all fives skaters on the ice know their who
to cover or how to exit the zone properly. Plus, everyone will know where their
 other four teammates are at any given point.

This attention to detail has been lacking lately, but needs to be addressed
this season. If Larkin, Mantha, and Athanasiou are going to carry the team
forward, they'll need to know how to approach every shift so that the Zadinas
and Rasmussens of the future will learn the right way to compete. This is part
of the reason why Holland has supplemented the Red Wings with veterans in the
past - to instill an attitude that every shift matters and should be approached
 with 100 percent commitment and effort.Special Teams

When the Red Wings hired Dan Bylsma this summer to assist Blashill, the former
Penguins and Sabres head coach was tasked with improving Detroit's abysmal
power play. Even without Zetterberg, that goal is still possible. Besides, the
Red Wings can only go up in terms of special teams play.Can Dan Bylsma
revitalize Detroit';s power play? (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Bylsma will have a handful of players with intriguing styles to choose from for
 his power play. Frk's shot. Vanek's right-handed shot and net-front presence.
Rasmussen's hand-eye coordination and large frame. Larkin and Green's vision
and mobility. Then, there's still Athanasiou, Mantha, Nyquist, and potentially
Hronek and Zadina as well.

The components are there - Bylsma just needs to find an effective way to deploy
 them.

Doug Houda's penalty kill could also use a boost. At times last season, the
PK-especially its forechecking-looked unbeatable. But, in the end, the Red
Wings gave up too many quality chances and, as a result, goals against.

While there are no additions who can improve the penalty kill immediately,
perhaps another season under Houda's watch and a refined commitment to the
strategy will pay dividends for the Red Wings. Maybe Bylsma can lend a hand as
a former two-way player himself. Only time will tell.Continuing the Rebuild

Detroit's commitment to a youth movement will likely receive a boost around the
 trade deadline, as there are quite a few Red Wings who could be on the block
as rental acquisitions. The Hockey Writers colleague Jacob Messing identified
Nyquist as having the most trade value of the bunch.If Nyquist can produce
adequately before the trade deadline, the Red Wings should seriously consider
moving the winger. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Nyquist hasn't fulfilled the lofty expectations he set for himself when he
scored 28 goals and 48 points in 57 games when he broke into the league in
2013-14. At 29, Nyquist can no longer be sold as a project player.

But there's still the possibility of him finding more consistency playing
alongside better linemates. He's been a positive possession player with an
adequate two-way game, and a proven ability to bolster a second power play
unit.

A hot start to the season could be the difference for his trade value, but he
should be able to fetch a second-round pick at the least. One thing is for
sure, he won't finish the season with the Red Wings.

In addition to Nyquist, the Red Wings have a handful of other players who could
 be attractive options around the trade deadline.

Though he has a no-trade clause (NTC), Thomas Vanek has become a valued
commodity around the annual deadline. If the Red Wings decided to part with the
 veteran (again) and he's producing at a respectable rate, another third-round
pick would be acceptable compensation for his services. The same could be said
for Trevor Daley, whose NTC expires 10 days before the 2019 NHL Trade
Deadline.Related: Diving Into the Detroit Red Wings No-Trade Clauses

Nick Jensen could also be dealt this season, as he'll become an unrestricted
free agent (UFA) at season's end. Teams up against the salary cap upper limit
and pushing for a playoff spot would value his mobility, two-way game, and
inexpensive contract ($812,500) as a solid depth add for the blue line.Nick
Jensen would be a nice value add for a playoff-bound team. (Kim Klement-USA
TODAY Sports)

Finally, it would not be surprising to see Jimmy Howard traded since he'll
become a UFA this spring as well. However, the Red Wings would only consider
moving their long-time netminder if they received a substantial offer. Many
expect Detroit to work out a contract extension with Howard - possibly in the
two-year, $4 million per season range.

However, most-if not all-of these players could stick around under the right
conditions. If the Red Wings are in playoff contention as the trade deadline
approaches, Holland may decide in favor of the status quo and keep his team
intact. In addition, contract extensions for Nyquist, Jensen, Howard, and
possibly Vanek could prevent a few deals from happening. Vanek could also opt
to exercise his NTC if a potential trade is not to his liking.

But, in all likelihood, some of these players will be sent packing by the trade
 deadline. As a result, the Red Wings will need to call up and deploy prospects
 in their stead. Hicketts, Sulak, Svechnikov, and Turgeon might find themselves
 in Detroit following the deadline - much to the joy of Red Wings rebuild fans.
 Even though these prospects won't start the year in Hockeytown, they'll play a
 role at some point this season.Final Word

The 2018-19 season may not be a favorable one for the Red Wings, but they'll
have the opportunity to grow as a young team. It would not be surprising to see
 the Red Wings finish near the bottom of standings given their strong division
and the overall competitive nature of the NHL.

If that's the case, then Detroit will once again draft near the top-five of the
 2019 NHL Draft. They'll also have the Islanders' second-round pick (acquired
in the Tomas Tatar deal from Vegas) and their own high second-rounder. Add in
additional picks from rebuilding trade deadline deals and the Red Wings could
have another impact draft to bolster their prospect pipeline.How will Larkin
step up in Zetterberg';s absence? (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Though they'll likely be bottom-dwellers, this season should not be graded
based on wins and losses, but more on the team's development. Did Mantha reach
30 goals? Did Larkin effectively step into a No. 1 center role? Did Athanasiou,
 Bertuzzi, Zadina, and Rasmussen grow as the season went along? And did the
team remain competitive night after night?

Successes in these goals-plus other similar benchmarks-will net Blashill a
contract extension in Detroit. More importantly, it will also set the Red Wings
 up for a productive 2019-20 campaign, when playoffs may not be out of the
question.

This season may not be the most glamorous for the historic franchise, but will
serve a vital role in the development of Detroit's next great teams. While it's
 easy to get bogged down in the trials of the moment, we must remember that the
 future will be brighter as a result of this year's growth.What do you expect
out of the Detroit Red Wings this season? Comment below with your thoughts.

The post Red Wings 2018-19 Season Preview & Rebuild Guide appeared first on The
 Hockey Writers.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheHockeyWrite...
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
 * Origin: TequilaMockingbird Online - Toms River, NJ (1:266/404)