Detroit Red Wings: 10 Reasons They Are the Most Complete Team in the NHL

The Detroit Red Wings have been the gold standard in the NHL over the past 20 years. After going through a period that is fondly referred to as the "Dead Things Era," Detroit proudly wears the name Hockeytown on its home ice, and in its heart.

Purchased in 1982 by Little Caesars "Pizza Pizza" man Mike Ilitch, the franchise's fortunes slowly turned under the guidance of Jimmy Devellano, Scotty Bowman and now Ken Holland. With 1983 first-round draft pick Steve Yzerman as the cornerstone, parts were added, piece by piece, slowly turning the Red Wings into more than just a playoff attendee.

With a keen scouting and drafting combination, Detroit's fortunes improved exponentially in the early 1990s by tapping the Russian talent pool and fleecing Scandinavia for their creative Swedes. With Stanley Cup triumphs in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, the Red Wings have set the bar high for themselves, with high, often unfair, expectations from their fans.

Though winning the Stanley Cup is every team's goal, the Red Wings always seem a little bit closer than everybody else. Here are 10 reasons why Detroit is the most complete team in the NHL.

Depth: Detroit Rolls 4 Lines Every Night

While most teams have two-and-a-half to three solid lines, the Wings roll four every night. Though the star power on the top two to three is evident, head coach Mike Babcock will run his fourth line against any team's top line at any given time.

By combining equal parts grit, speed, finesse and power, each line offers Detroit's opponents difficult matchups across the board. Three solid defensive pairings also make Detroit a headache for every opposing coach.

Coach Babcock has also shown that he is not opposed to swapping players off of different lines, whether it's to tweak the chemistry or for the psyche of his players.

The Red Wings Youth Movement

Typically, the consensus is that the Wings have the oldest roster in the league. That may be true, but it is also the most useless list/stat in the league.

While Detroit's average age is a league-high 29.9, Nick Lidstrom has to be considered a "curve buster" at age 41. Also driving the average up are veterans Todd Bertuzzi (37) and Thomas Holmstrom (39).

But the core of the Wings' roster falls between ages of 25 to 33, which is the prime for most athletes not named Lidstrom. With lots of youthful energy in the third and fourth lines ready to add a spark, these Red Wings do not tire easily.

While the Red Wings give a preview each year of some of the younger talent in the organization, the experience that the veterans bring is invaluable come playoff time. There are a combined 17 Stanley Cup rings on Detroit's roster.

I'm sure they wouldn't trade any of them to be lower on the oldest roster" list

Mike Babcock Is the Best Coach in Hockey

There is no coach with the resume of Mike Babcock in the NHL. His intensity before during and after games is legendary, as is the perpetual scowl adorning his face. It's a wonder the Wings have the confidence they do, as Babcock is rarely satisfied with their performance.

While Babcock cannot actually will the Red Wings to victory, he has succeeded at every level. His success in Detroit has as much to do with what he brings to the table as the roster he inherited.

While he still sits in Scotty Bowman's shadow in Detroit, it could be argued that he is writing his own legacy in Motown, comparable to Bowman's.

Is There a Better Home-Ice Advantage Than the Joe Louis Arena?

In case you just started watching hockey, the Red Wings are a pretty good team on their home ice. While they can't play every game at the Joe, the Wings certainly have a little more spring in their stride in front of the raucous Hockeytown faithful.

Away from home this year has been a struggle. Decidedly average on the road, the Wings have split their away games  this year. We'll see what the playoffs bring, because Detroit has historically been much better in hostile territory than they've shown lately.

Confidence translates equally home and away, and when Detroit gets hot, it doesn't matter where they play.

KRONWALL!!!!! Keep Your Head Up!

It seems as though the imaginary leash that was on Kronwall for the past season has come off lately. Kronwall has gotten more selective in picking his spots for the statement hits like this one. He has turned into a much more complete defenseman this year and has certainly put the puck in the net at a career-high pace (14G, 17A).

And if you are keeping your head on a swivel in the neutral zone, watch out for Brad Stuart. While his hits are not as consistently violent as Kronwall's, Stuart can drop the hammer if you aren't looking.

Kronwall is an X-factor now more than ever. While he used to look for more big hits during games, Kronwall has adjusted. Opponents are always aware of where he is on the ice, and as long as he keeps dropping loads like Voracek, opponents will have to stay alert.

The Emergence of Jimmy Howard and Joey MacDonald

While Jimmy Howard was firmly entrenched as the Wings' netminder, the backup job had been in the precarious hands of Ty Conklin. While Conklin posted remarkable numbers as Detroit's backup in 2008-09, he was below average at best this year. When Howard went down with a broken finger in early February, Conklin squandered his chance to shine with a poor performance.

Enter Joey MacDonald. To describe MacDonald as a "journeyman goaltender" is an insult to journeymen everywhere. Joey Mac, who had been spectacularly poor in his previous call-up in 2006, bounced around the AHL and with the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Some might argue that he never left the AHL while playing with the Isles and Leafs.

However, since being recalled from Grand Rapids, MacDonald has been remarkable. Wings fans have a renewed confidence in the depth in goal in case Jimmy H goes down.

Chemistry: This Combination of Pieces Can Work

The Red Wings did not make any significant moves at the trade deadline this year because of one reason: They did not need to. Kyle Quincey was basically swapped out for Mike Commodore, who was a healthy scratch more often than not.

Quincey has improved immensely since the last time he wore the red and white, but he's not going to crack the top four rotation on the Wings. He's a better option than Jakub Kindl, who hasn't impressed and will possibly make Jonathon Ericsson irrelevant when he comes back from his wrist injury.

Ken Holland looked at his roster and determined that with the team's success in the regular season, he could take his chances going into the playoffs. While the two most glaring holes (power play and road record) weren't addressed, Detroit has enough skill on their roster to work through the bumps. Traditionally, with the same ingredients, Detroit is near the top of the league in PP and road wins.

Pavel and the Euroflash

Though it sounds like the name of a fabulous 80's A-ha tribute band, Datsyuk and Zetterberg lead a gaggle of uber-talented Europeans. While the Red Wings have always been known to poach talent outside of North America, this year's crew seems ripe for success.

The emergence of slippery Fin Valteri Fillipula and the awakening of Jiri Hudler, combined with the scoring touch of Johan Franzen, means that Detroit doesn't have to rely on No. 13 and No. 40 every night. The slick-skating Euroflash love to put together the highlight reel goals, but they will also stick their nose in the crease and hack out the dirty goals, too.

Experience: 2008 Wasn't That Long Ago

It seems like a time far, far away, but 2008 was only four years ago. The sting of the 2009 loss may still linger a little bit, but it could be a distant memory if the Wings manage to lift Lord Stanley this spring.

The Wings are loaded with experienced players who have been deep in the playoffs. There will be no butterflies or stick gripping when the puck drops at the Joe. With Draper and Maltby retired, only Lidstrom and Holmstrom remain from the glory days.

This new generation of Red Wings is hungry to put their own stamp on Hockeytown history.

Front Office: There Is Nobody Better at Finding Talent Than Ken Holland and Co.

There is no other team in the NHL that does their homework like the Detroit Red Wings. One of the crucial elements to making the franchise so complete is a proactive front office.

While we as fans want the blockbuster trades that shuffle lineups and potentially wreck locker room harmony, the cooler heads in the front office get paid to think inside and well outside of the box.

Detroit's roster is loaded with late-round draft picks, and players who were allowed to "ripen" in the minor leagues. There is no coincidence that the long-term success of the Detroit Red Wings parallels with the development of these draft pick gems. 

So there it is. Many teams believe that they own the recipe for success in the NHL, and some do achieve a certain amount through drafts, trades and free agency. Whether it's their playing style or their personnel. Their coach or front office.

The Detroit Red Wings have combined all of these elements to become the premier franchise in hockey, and possibly all of professional sports. They are without a doubt the most complete team in the NHL.