Top 5 Storylines Emerging During the Detroit Red Wings' 2014-15 Preseason

The Detroit Red Wings have played six preseason games with two remaining before the regular season begins October 9.

The split-squad rosters will be whittled down to the appropriate size in the coming days as the season inches closer.

This time every fall, a few storylines emerge that raise questions, eyebrows and expectations.

Some intriguing topics of conversation have arisen through the first three quarters of exhibition hockey, some of which could carry significant weight once the games begin to count.

Concern and anticipation grow from the same roots as opening night approaches and are sure to branch out into many other directions as the season progresses.

Based on potential impact, intrigue and a realistic projection, those on this list will make for another exciting installment of Detroit Red Wings hockey.

These are the top five storylines at the forefront of the Detroit Red Wings' preseason.

5. Power Play Struggles While Penalty Kill Dominates

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Through six preseason games, Detroit’s special teams have and have not been, well, special.

While there have been multiple power-play goals tallied in two games this preseason, the other four contests have come up empty with ample opportunity.

Detroit has just four goals on 32 attempts with the man-advantage.

It went two-for-six in its first game, a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It scored twice on eight opportunities in the team’s 3-0 win over Toronto on Monday night.

During the other four games, the power play has come up empty on 18 chances, generating 29 shots.

On its own end of the ice, Detroit has flourished, killing all 26 opportunities against. In its 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on September 25, Detroit surrendered just one shot on goal in four stints shorthanded.

The penalty kill showed tremendous poise in Monday’s win over Toronto, killing off a five-minute major penalty to Tomas Nosek, as well as a subsequent five-on-three when Mitch Callahan earned a delay-of-game minor for shooting the puck over the glass.

The struggles on the power play are bound to dissipate once the team’s top stars take the ice with regularity. How much is still in question after finishing just 18th in the league with the man-advantage last season.

Because the team is sure to improve on the power play, there is no panic. The success of the penalty kill is exciting, and the possibility of ranking among the NHL’s best special teams units earns the No. 5 spot on our list.

4. Offense Struggles with Consistency

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The Red Wings are currently 3-2-1 in the preseason, and the offense has struggled to consistently find the back of the net.

Detroit’s top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen and Gustav Nyquist has skated together for three games to the tune of zero points. It’s a little alarming considering the watered-down level of the preseason, but there remains no sense of urgency.

In six games in September, Detroit has totaled 10 goals. It scored one or fewer in three games. 

In total it has been outscored by its opponents 10-5 at even strength.

It is not for a lack of chances as the offense has averaged north of 25 shots on goal per game.

The aforementioned power play struggles contribute to the lack of production with just four goals on 32 attempts.

Landon Ferraro netted the lone tally (shorthanded) in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins.

The top line will find its groove eventually, and the return of Pavel Datsyuk will add significant scoring depth. For that reason, it falls at No. 4 on our list.

It is a little disconcerting to be outscored this heavily at even strength, but once the roster settles in, the issue should resolve itself.

3. Riley Sheahan Is in Mid-Season Form

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Of all of Detroit’s exciting young prospects, Riley Sheahan appears to be tapping into his potential at just the right time for the team.

Sheahan has accumulated a goal and an assist while winning nearly 55 percent of his faceoffs. He is also averaging over 17 minutes of ice time per game.

He enjoyed some top-six minutes during the 2013-14 season and could be in line to see some more pending how the roster shakes out over the course of the year.

He finished third on the team in 2013-14 with 2.11 points per 60 minutes of play behind only Gustav Nyquist (2.81) and Henrik Zetterberg (2.45).

His 13.64 shooting percentage last season shows promise and calculates to an impressive 1.062 PDO.

His solid play and intriguing upside lands him here at No. 3.

Detroit’s depth at center has grown significantly because of Sheahan’s development. Darren Helm was moved to the wing alongside Pavel Datsyuk, and Stephen Weiss has been moved to the fourth line.

Sheahan's presence has already had an affect on Detroit’s lineup, and could be felt more so by opponents.

2. Injuries Remain a Concern

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The regular season has yet to begin and there are already concerns over the team’s durability.

Darren Helm suffered a broken nose, popped blood vessel and stitches after taking a stick blade to the face in the same game, as well as a nagging groin issue.

MLive’s Ansar Khan reports Helm has returned to practice and will play one of the final two preseason games.

Pavel Datsyuk suffered a separated shoulder in the team’s first preseason game and is projected to miss up to a month.

Gustav Nyquist missed time with a sore knee following a collision with Boston’s Dougie Hamilton but returned to the lineup Wednesday.

Jonathan Ericsson is dealing with a hip flexor, and while his status is unclear for the weekend, he is expected to be ready for the season opener. However, his surgically repaired finger could cause lingering issues, per Khan.

Detroit has had some of the worst luck with injuries in recent years. The early presence of the injury bug this preseason is something that will remain in the back of the minds of Red Wing faithful.

While plenty of young players proved their worth over the course of the 2013-14 season, the team’s overall success will be driven by the health of its veteran leaders.

As much energy as a youth infusion provides, the veteran talent provides so much immeasurable value on and off the ice.

The majority of these injuries don’t appear to be of long-term concern. However, last season’s woes remain all too vivid in Hockeytown, landing here at No. 2.

1. Petr Mrazek Is Making His Case for the NHL

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Detroit’s top goalie prospect Petr Mrazek has made it clear he wants and deserves an opportunity at the NHL level.

In nine career NHL appearances Mrazek is 2-4-0 with a 1.74 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and two shutouts.

The 22-year-old inked a one-year contract extension through the 2015-16 season. He would have been a restricted free agent next summer.

So far this preseason he has posted a 0.58 goals-against average in over 103 minutes of play, a .977 save percentage and one shutout.

He has shown flashes of NHL-ready talent, and it may be the solitary reason why Detroit refused to offer Jonas Gustavsson a multi-year deal this summer.

Gustavsson will become a free agent after this season, and next year will likely see Mrazek secure the backup position to Jimmy Howard.

Howard is entering his sixth season as Detroit’s starting netminder, and at 30 years old, he is closer to the end of his prime than the cusp.

There is no doubt that Mrazek is Detroit’s goalie of the future, but with the way he’s played, that could be much sooner than later.

The excitement stemming from his ability and rapid progression earn him the top spot on the list.