$5 Things We\'ve Learned From the Detroit Red Wings\' Early-Season Action$

5 Things We've Learned From the Detroit Red Wings' Early-Season Action

By Darrell Samuels

5 Things We've Learned From the Detroit Red Wings' Early-Season Action

Detroit Red Wings — The Montreal Canadiens franchise might have the most Stanley Cups in the NHL with 24 championships, but the Detroit Red Wings are not too shabby either. They have made the playoffs for 24 consecutive seasons, and early signs this year show that it is not unfathomable to think that they will make the playoffs for 25 consecutive years. The following things have been observed relating to their great start.

5. Adjusting Well To New Head Coach Jeff Blashill

Detroit Red Wings win

5. Adjusting Well To New Head Coach Jeff Blashill

Detroit Red Wings win — At least early in the season, there were questions about how the team would adjust under Blashill's leadership. The team has won their first three regular season contests under their new head coach. The post-Mike Babcock era is off to a great start in Detroit.

4. Justin Abdelkader Is Future Scoring Leader

Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings

4. Justin Abdelkader Is Future Scoring Leader

Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings — Nobody knows how much more Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg have left in the tank as top NHL talent. Justin Abdelkader has five points already and had a hat-trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the team's home opener at Joe Louis Arena.

3. Henrik Zetterberg Is Aging But Still Producing

Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings

3. Henrik Zetterberg Is Aging But Still Producing

Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings — Detroit's aging veteran Henrik Zetterberg doesn't appear to be slowing down, as he has racked up seven points in three games. Pavel Datsyuk is currently injured, but these two talents are examples of what having fantastic scouts can achieve. Datsyuk was drafted 171st in 1998 and Zetterberg was drafted 210th in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

2. Jimmy Howard, Petr Mrazek Combo Just Fine In Net

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

2. Jimmy Howard, Petr Mrazek Combo Just Fine In Net

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings — The goaltending in the Motor City is doing wonderfully with Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek between the pipes. The starting job will always be a hot topic for the Wings as Mrazek appeared, last season, to be showing signs of being able to steal the starting job from Howard. To date, the team has only given up four goals in three games.

1. Forward Dylan Larkin Is Fitting In Perfectly

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings

1. Forward Dylan Larkin Is Fitting In Perfectly

Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings — Rookie forward Larkin is an example of fantastic drafting by the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit selected him No. 15 overall in last summer's NHL Entry Draft. He currently has four points in three games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. That's a seamless transition.

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Detroit Red Wings

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