Detroit Red Wings Poised to Have Strong 2nd Half

Through the first half of the season, a number of Detroit Red Wing players are meeting or exceeding expectations, including Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Tatar and Henrik Zetterberg. These players are in the midst of a solid season, but there are other Red Wings on the roster who can step things up in the second half.

The players I am about to talk about aren't exactly having a "turrible" season, but they have the potential to have a strong second half. With that in mind, here are some Detroit players who can extend their Red Wings and elevate their game.

Stephen Weiss

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It is hard not to feel bad for Stephen Weiss when you block out the fact that he is being paid a pretty penny to play hockey in Detroit. The poor center, in luck only and not wealth, has continually showed spots of brilliance before suffering an injury.

After missing 13 games with a groin injury, Weiss returned to the lineup and produced at a point-per-game pace. However, the success was short lived before he suffered an upper-body injury. He went on to miss four more games before he scored a goal in his return to the lineup versus the Buffalo Sabres.

Weiss has 11 points in 12 games and is on pace to appear in less than 60 total games this season. If he can play the rest of the way without injury, he can be a productive forward for a Detroit team that could use depth throughout the bottom six.

The Toronto native has been a solid center his entire career, and there is no reason to doubt his ability to make a turnaround during the second half of the season.

Tomas Jurco

Tomas Jurco became a hockey sensation before he made his NHL debut because of his fancy stick work and creativity. The phenom has appeared in 32 games this season, but he only has 12 points to his name.

The Red Wings have tried him on multiple lines, but he hasn't found any consistent success. Jurco clearly has great hands and offensive know-how, and on the second line he is now in a position where he can make himself a better player entering the second half of the season.

You shouldn't expect anything superb out of Jurco, but you can count on him making strides toward becoming a more productive NHL player.

Riley Sheahan

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Riley Sheahan has been a prospect who has blossomed for the Red Wings in an unexpected fashion this season. The former NCAA standout has 17 points in 35 games, and he's played well in just his second NHL season.

He is currently the Red Wings' second-line center, and that role suits his skill set. Sheahan made a name for himself at the University of Notre Dame, where his skilled two-way game allowed him to tally 64 points in 114 games.

This season Sheahan has taken significant steps forward, and if he can get back into a groove, he can finish the season with 40 to 45 points.

Danny DeKeyser

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The Detroit Red Wings were ecstatic when they won the Danny DeKeyser sweepstakes in March of 2013, and since joining the roster, he has continued to develop as a player.

DeKeyser's 6'3", 190-pound frame allows him to play an active game, and it helps that he is a great skater. He is 24 years old and is starting to enter the sweet spot of his development.

This season DeKeyser has 13 points in 33 games, and he's on pace to finish with 32 points in 80 games. That would be a nice improvement upon the 23 points he tallied in 65 games last season. The Wings have gotten lucky with how they acquire and develop defenders, and DeKeyser is the most recent example of that.

Justin Abdelkader

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Justin Abdelkader returned after missing seven games with a shoulder injury on December 16, and the right winger is ready to get back on track. To start the season he had 15 points in 23 games, and it appeared that he was on pace to have one of the best seasons of his young career.

Mike Babcock placed Abdelkader on the first line during his return to the lineup, and he picked up an assist after playing 19:05 against the Buffalo Sabres. It was only one game, but Abdelkader's shoulder looked OK during the three shots he fired on goal.

With a clean bill of health and some decent linemates, it is safe to say Abdelkader is poised to have a killer second half to the season.

Stats and injury information via The Hockey News.