And like that it’s 3-0!
How the fuck are the Red Wings getting it done?!
I suppose it doesn’t help that St. Louis is in total disarray, but for fucking real, how are the Red Wings so competitive?
Sad as it may be, I was really looking forward, nay excited, to see Detroit go in the tank this year. How could you not with the Jack Hughes going to the winner of the 2019 NHL Draft Lottery? The dude is supposed to be a “generational” talent that any team would love to have dressing for them.
Since 1995, 11 teams who had the best odds to win the draft lottery have actually won the 1st overall selection. That’s 11/23 or 11 out of 23 or 47.8%. However you slice it, finishing worst doesn’t guarantee you shit. Which is where I find myself amidst all this Winged Wheel winning. We don’t need to tank and no team should aspire to that (see Edmonton). Mediocrity may be the enemy of excellence in a lot of ways but losing begets losing.
Ken Holland and Jeff Blashill have done a masterful job of following through on their vision: continue to build a winning culture. Despite their critics, of which I was previously, they’ve stuck to their guns and have this squad competing, though not always winning (cough Columbus cough). As my future friends over at the Winged Wheel Podcast have continued to point out, it’s been, by in large, the young guys stepping up that have made the difference this season. Whether it’s Larkin with his speed, Athanasiou with his electricity, Bertuzzi with his grit or any of the other green professionals (Cholowski for Calder anyone?) they almost always seem to be the ones making impact plays for this squad.
Now let’s see how this 3rd period goes.
LGRW!