10 Bold Predictions for Detroit Red Wings 2013-14 Season
Detroit Red Wings: 10 Bold Predictions for 2013-2014
The Detroit Red Wings are going into the 2013-14 NHL season with a supreme amount of confidence for no good reason at all. This is a team that barely snuck into the playoffs last spring, finishing the shortened regular season with 56 points, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Yes, the Blue Jackets.
Their move to the Eastern Conference in 2013 is seen by their fan-base as something that they have deserved for quite some time. For some reason, the people of the mistakingly called "HOCKEYTOWN" feel as if their team is going to walk into the East and steamroll everyone that stands in their way. This, of course, is coming from a fan-base that continuously fails to sell-out Joe Louis Arena when the Red Wings are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's this false sense of passion that results in supreme cockiness that just doesn't seem to add up.
The team's move to the Eastern Conference will result in nothing but a rude awakening for all those that reside in "HOCKEYTOWN." Here are 10 bold predictions for what will surely be a season to forget for the Red Wings.
10. Daniel Alfredsson Will Not Contribute
After finishing in a disappointing sixth place in the Western Conference and making an uncharacteristicly early exit in the playoffs, losing to rival Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, the Red Wings made two changes. That's it. The most notable being the acquisition of 40-year old Daniel Alfredsson. The former Ottawa Senator is notoriously known for promising victories and failing at that very task. Enjoy Detroit.
9. Jimmy Howard Will Lose His Starting Job
Jimmy Howard is quite possibly the most overrated goaltender in the NHL. He failed to steal wins for his team more times than not, and by mid-season in 2013-14, the Red Wings will be forced to put Howard on the shelf and promote someone else due to far too many pucks squeaking through his five-hole. Unfortunately for the Red Wings, the softy himself, Jonas Gustavsson, is injured as usual, which makes way for the inexperienced Grand Rapids Gryphon Petr Mrazek.
8. Red Wings Fans Will Be Outnumbered at the Winter Classic
It's simple. It seems as though Detroit fans travel well since they are often seen packing out of town arenas when the Red Wings are on the road. In actual fact, these people don't really have to go anywhere. They have either been displaced or said their goodbyes to the city of Detroit a long time ago, and rightfully so, brought their Red Wings jersey with them. If they can't fill Joe Louis Arena during the playoffs, how will they fill Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on New Year's Day? Oh yeah, they are leaving that up to fans of that team from up north.
The amount of Toronto Maple Leafs fans that will be making their way to Ann Arbor for the Winter Classic is going to be a staggering number. One that will prove to be very overwhelming for anyone wearing red inside The Big House on Jan. 1.
7. They Will Lose the Winter Classic
Due to the lack of fan support inside Michigan Stadium, the Red Wings will lose the Winter Classic to the Maple Leafs. It will definitely be a close game, but the 80,000 fans taking up 70 percent of The Big House wearing blue and white will be the voice of reason on that day and guide the Leafs to victory.
6. Todd Bertuzzi Will Serve a 10 Game Suspension
The undisciplined Red Wings forward, Todd Bertuzzi, is due to make a big mistake. Those in the Eastern Conference know Bertuzzi as the guy that tried to break Steve Moore's neck. Someone is going to step up to Bertuzzi and let him retaliate in a way that will only see him gone for at least 10 games.
5. Zetterberg and Datsyuk Will Combine for Less Than 40 Goals
This may be the boldest call of them all, but Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has cooled off over the past couple of seasons and this will continue in 2013-14, and take it's toll on Pavel Datsyuk's production. Adding Alfredsson, a notorious puck hog, will also disrupt the flow between the two and will also result in the deflation of their regular season stats.
4. They Will Play Below .500 to Original 6 Teams
The Red Wings find themselves in what will surely be 16 grudge matches between them and the rest of the Original Six teams, four of which are now in their conference. Detroit isn't used to dealing with this old school rivalry and will find it hard to adjust to their new surroundings. Especially when they have to play in hostile environments that they hardly ever experienced while playing in the Western Conference.
3. Mike Babcock Will Lose His Job in 2013-2014
Once the Red Wings get off to a slow start to the season and the holidays roll around, Mike Babcock's head will be forced to start focusing on the business that Team Canada has to take care of during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Team Canada is looking to defend their coveted gold medal and the Red Wings will be somewhat of an afterthought for even Babcock. This will result in a poor playoff seeding for two years in a row in Detroit, and the Red Wings management will be forced to say their goodbyes to him.
2. They Will Have a losing Record at Home
The Red Wings always play very well at home, but things are about to change at The Joe. It was tough for the Red Wings to get settled at their homes due to the constant west coast travel schedule that they had to deal with since they moved to the Western Conference. At least that's what we have to think after hearing all the complaining from their management and the fan-base. It was almost as if they treated home games as being on the road. I don't blame them, Joe Louis is a dump. Now that they are able to get somewhat settled in while having a home stand, the Red Wings will get too comfortable in their surroundings and be forced to welcome teams that have had relatively short trips to Detroit and that will be ready to play and win on the road.
1. They Will Not Advance Past the 1st Round of the Playoffs
The Red Wings will make the playoffs in 2013-14, but will be forced to play a team that will bring a lot more to the table in terms of an overall playoff atmosphere. Playing against the Maple Leafs or the Boston Bruins is a lot different than playing against a team like the Anaheim Ducks. Against teams from the division formerly known as the Northeast, the playoffs continue when you go back to the hotel, when you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning. This isn't something the Red Wings are used to. After they get bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they will be forced to watch the rest of the playoffs in the comfort of the Motor City, not "HOCKEYTOWN."
Jonny Adornetto is a Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonnyrants, "Like" him on Facebook and add him to your Google network.
