Despite Offseason Losses, Detroit Red Wings' Offense Is Alive and Well

The roster losses the Detroit Red Wings sustained over the summer are well documented, so I won't waste time detailing them here.

Suffice to say, when Detroit began the 2009-10 season, most believed that goals in Detroit were going to be about as plentiful as optimistic auto workers.

A team whose name had become synonymous with outstanding offense, the Detroit Red Wings were about to undergo a major identity change.

At least, that's what was assumed.

One quarter into the season, the Red Wings are proving the old adage true; to assume, is to make an ASS out of U and ME.

Detroit currently leads the Central Division in goals scored, good enough for third in the conference.

This is something few people would have expected, especially after the loss of 30-goal-scorer Johan Franzen three games into the season.

For all the change this team has undergone the past five months, their ability to regularly put the puck in the net has been largely unchanged.

Now, some would look at their poor start to the season and say that, clearly, they can't score enough to win.

But this would be ignoring the fact that five of their eight losses (5L-3OTL) have come after they've surrendered the lead to the opposition.

They were scoring enough, they just weren't saving enough to win.

One could say that this team would still have a difficult time scoring themselves out of trouble, the way they did regularly last season.

This is true.

As we've seen, poor defensive play isn't something this team can sustain and win.

Still, the emaciated offense expected at the start of the season has yet to reveal itself.

In fact, Detroit has 20 players that have scored this season.  This is better than offensive juggernauts San Jose (18), Washington (18) and Pittsburgh (15).

This diversity in scoring ability will continue to pay dividends as Detroit awaits the return of Jason Williams (leg), Johan Franzen (knee), and Valtteri Filppula (wrist).

This should go a long way towards providing another bright spot for a team that, despite an early season malaise has won seven of their last eight and climbed to within two points of first place in the division.