Detroit Red Wings, 2013 Stanley Cup Champions: Part 2

The Detroit Red Wings last won the Stanley Cup in 2008. Since then, the franchise has experienced a slow decline which culminated in a fifth place finish followed by a first round exit last season. In Hockeytown, this is not acceptable.

When the season ended, my gut told me that we had seen the great Nick Lidstrom play his final game for the Detroit Red Wings.  It was a bittersweet moment to hear the news several weeks later. Bitter that the consummate classy captain was leaving the Wings for good, but sweet that the Wings now had nearly $7 million more in cap space. The Wings also lost Brad Stuart, and will probably lose Jiri Hudler (good riddance) and Tomas Holmstrom as well.

That leaves some holes to fill, but the Wings have some players in-house who can help to grow the franchise.  Some of the needed upgrades can be made by players already a part of the Red Wings organization.

Here are a few players that must be on the ice this season and skating for the Red Wings in order for them to have a shot at the 2013 Stanley Cup:

Justin Abdelkader

Justin "Abdelskater"—as he is affectionately referred to at home—seems on the verge of a breakout.  He performed very well and ate up tons of ice-time for the United States at the World Championships a couple of months ago.  There isn't much chance of the Wings losing him as he is an RFA, but the Wings should do what they did with Darren Helm, and lock him up for the next several years. 

Right now Abdelkader's salary is under $800k.  A four-year deal with a bump up to the $1.25-1.5 million per year range should make Justin feel wanted and support the Wings' wise investment when he pops up with the 15-goal, 30-plus point season soon.

Abdelkader is fast, a good checker, defensively responsible, a pest (the best we've got) and though he's no sheriff, he certainly can be a valuable deputy.  He is a worthy player to be on the new Grind Line.

Gustav Nyquist

There is no chance that the Wings are going to lose Nyquist. As such, what the Wings need to do is make sure that Nyquist spends the season in Detroit with the Wings and not in Grand Rapids with the Griffins. 

Last season, Nyquist only posted a paltry seven points (1G, 6A) in 18 games. What he did do, though, was show excellent speed, a willingness to put his body on the line and some defensive responsibility.

Mike Babcock and the staff thought so highly of him that he spent time on the first and second lines down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs.  What was clear was that he had the skills and speed of a top six NHL forward.  It was also clear that something was just a half a beat off.  He may just need more games under his skates at the NHL level for everything to click in. 

He does have two and a half of the three qualities the Wings need to improve their team.  He is fast, he can win one-on-one and though he isn't the biggest or strongest, he isn't afraid of contact.

Expect Nyquist to be given every chance to replace Hudler on the second line with Zetterberg and Filppula.  That would be a great move on the part of the Red Wings. 

Brendan Smith

And now you are going to pay, Mr. Shaw (pictured eating knuckles)!  There couldn't be a better picture to show Smith's physicality and accountability.  The Wings need this badly. 

Similar to Nyquist, the challenge with Smith is to get him on the ice.  He has both elite level athletic ability and skating for an NHL defenseman.  He is tough and skilled and let's face it: Smith has accomplished all he can with the Griffins. 

His roadblock is the mental part of the game.  It's not his instincts, but his decision making that are holding him back.  He has a little bit of Brett Favre in him—he seems to have a tough time "settling" for the safe play.

On the positive side, he put up the same amount of points (7pts-1G, 6A) as Gustav Nyquist in four less games (14) while playing defense.  He did all this while playing in the third defensive pairing, and with very little power play time. 

Brendan Smith has all three of the qualities that the Wings need to improve on in spades.  He is very fast, hits like a truck, is a willing combatant, and though he needs some work still on his one-on-one defense he can beat a lot of players one-on-one with the puck on his stick.

Kyle Quincey

Wait...what? How can Quincey be on the keep 'em and the leave 'em list? Well, the Wings need to make a qualifying offer so they can keep him and the option of trading him open.

Kenny Holland invested a first round pick to pick up Quincey, so just letting him slip away would put the same egg that is now on David Poile's (Nashville's GM) face on Holland's. 

Even if they don't trade Quincey, Wings fans should expect him to have a much better season this year than he showed in his limited games as a Wing last season.  That improvement will be key to the Wings 2013 success.

Quincey has to be physical, and he has to be able to win those one-on-one battles in the defensive zone.  They need him to be a stout penalty killer as well.  The penalty kill is one area in which the Wings must show huge improvement.

With the signing of a top four free agent defenseman that would make the Wings seven defensemen deep, and the loss of the legend Nick Lidstrom sting a little less.