On Top of the World (Again): The Red Wings Once Again Are Cup Contenders

The legacy of the Detroit Red Wings seems like it will never end. Back a couple years ago, when Steve Yzerman retired and the Wings took a harsh loss to Edmonton in the first round, it seemed Detroit would finally fall from their everlasting throne and become a mediocre team.

But of course, that thought was diminished pretty fast. The next year the Wings made it to the Western finals only to lose to eventual Winners Anaheim. And the next year, they took it further, beating Pittsburgh in the finals. This year, with the acquisition on Hossa, they prove to be nothing less than the favorite for the cup.

Here's why. 

Offense

The first thing you look at in Detroit's offense is the dream line: Zetterburg, Dastyuk, and Holmstrom. Henrik Zetterburg is the young talent on the team, showing once again that he can be a star. Then, Assistant Captain Pavel Dastyuk has unbelievable chemistry with Zetterburg and can get assists and goals almost anytime he feels like it.

Holmstrom, of course, isn't the type of guy that races down the ice full speed and does some fancy moves to get a goal. No, instead he does the dirty work, parking himself in front of the net, screening the goalie and getting tip in goals against even the best goalies. 

Another guy you look at in the offense is new acquisition Marion Hossa. The speedy sharp shooter has been on three teams in two years (Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Detroit), but hopes to settle down in Detroit for more than one.

What does he bring to the team? For one he brings the news cameras, adding stardom to the team. For another thing he brings his sharp shooting ability, firing pucks in top corners, bottom corners, five holes, and even shoveling in some fancy back handers.

He also brings a heck of a lot of speed. Hossa can steal pucks and race in on Breakaways, fore-check hard and fast, and back check like no tomorrow. No doubt he adds a whole new level of skill and confidence to this team. 

Defense

The first guy you look at on Defense is Captain Nickolas Lidstrom. He provides leadership for this team and helps out a lot on the ice. He plays fierce defense, helping to keep pucks out of the net.

On the offensive side, he moves the puck around, fires pucks at the net for rebounds or tips, or gets goals himself, hitting the tiniest spots on the net and making it look easy.

His partner, Brian Rafalski, is having a stellar season. He always is an open target for Lidsrom if he needs a pass, and he holds the lead this season for most goals by a defenseman.

Along with that, he adds an intensity to Detroit's game, laying some sick checks on opponents and never letting a breakaway in. 

Then there's veteran Chris Chelios, a 40-year-old guy that some people question, but I certainly don't. The best thing about him is his work at the blue line. I don't know if I've ever seen Chelios let a puck out of his opponents end once it's in there, and he does the dirty work, scrumming for pucks in the corners and at the blue line.

He adds veteran smarts to the team and a toughness that can't be measured up to. 

Goaltending

Veteran G Chris Osgood (Ozzy) has been on the roster of the West All Star team more than once in his career. Although he is an All-Star goalie, he shows inconsistency between the pipes, having off games and off seasons an awful lot.

So, when he's having a bad game, The Wings turn to another new acquisition from Pittsburgh, Ty Conklin. He had an incredible season in Pittsburgh last year when Fluery got injured, and he shows a love and passion for the game this year with his new team.

So, when Ozzy's having a good game, Detroit lets him show his stuff. But when he's off, they just throw Conklin in the net and he gets the job done. 

I think the overall reason for Detroit's success is they have every position covered at least twice. Osgood and Conklin layer up quite nicely and provide a solid wall between the pipes every time.

On defense, Lidstrom and Rafalski start off the job, doing it quite well, and Chelios and Meech are there to cover for them. Then on Offense, The dream line of Zetterburg, Dastyuk, and Holmstrom highlight it, while Hossa, Draper, and Franzen act as a great side-show.

So I think The wings, as everyone believes, will win the cup once again, with their overall winning formula.