Grading the Wings
I was really good about doing this last season, when I did quarterly grades. I totally dropped the ball on the grades this season but now seems like as good a time as any to grade the players. Ansar Khan from MLIVE posted his grades as did Helene St. James [no need to visit as she gave everyone A’s].
Here are my regular season and playoff grades for each player.
Chris Chelios - Third Pairing Defense
Regular season: C
Playoffs: C-
There is talk of the Red Wings bringing Cheli back next season but it is with the understanding he’ll be the 7th or 8th defenseman. I’m guessing he’d be back if they told him it would be to assist Al Sobotka driving the zamboni. The guy is clearly hanging on out of his love for the game and being one of the guys in the locker room. But if a Norris Trophy winner and surefire Hall of Famer is coming back to potentially be the 8th defenseman it tells you that this was likely Chelios’ last season of logging consistent ice time.
The stats indicate as much, as Cheli’s +/- continues to drop despite being relegated to the third pairing. He also struggled during the playoffs and was eventually replaced by Andreas Lilja. At some point he’s going to have to call it a career and work on his Hall of Fame speech. Then he can possibly move into coaching.
Dan Cleary - Third Line Forward
Regular season: B
Playoffs: C+
Dan Cleary has obviously found his niche in Detroit after stops in Chicago, Edmonton and Phoenix. He’s had back to back 20 goal seasons and recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in the D for the next five seasons.
His offensive production tailed off markedly after he got capped in the face by Mikael Samuelsson [otherwise known as William Tell over at Abel to Yzerman]. Cleary was a solid PK’er and defensive forward during the playoffs, going +1 but he only tallied 2 goals and 1 assist over 22 games.
Pavel Datsyuk - First Line Forward
Regular season: A
Playoffs: A
Remember when there was legitimate debate about the contract extension Datsyuk signed prior to last summer? All Datsyuk did this season was finish first amongst Red Wings in total points and second for goals scored. He also improved his defensive play and was named a finalist for the Selke trophy that will be awarded to his linemate Hank Zetterberg later this month [no, there aren’t any t-shirts to announce this award ahead of time as far as I know].
Pavs continues to be a revelation. He’s always been just flat out filthy when it comes to stick-handling, but then he gained notoriety for being a bigger thief than “Boots” Del Biaggio during the season by leading the league in takeaways by a huge margin. Then, during the playoffs, he displayed a physical element in his game. Oh, and he was a point-a-game player in the playoffs and was +13.
Aaron Downey - Team Badass
Regular season: A
Playoffs: incomplete
Red Wings fans who longed for the days when the Bruise Brothers patrolled the ice were pleased to have Aaron Downey in the lineup for 56 games. He tallied a grand total of three assists all season but point production had absolutely nothing to do with the reason Downey was on the ice. He was there to fight for his teammates when called upon to do so. Downey’s biggest moment came when Ian Laperriere went after Nick Lidstrom when the captain was in a vulnerable position.
Avs beatdowns never get old
Downey kicked Laperriere’s ass and earned his place on the Red Wings roster. While he didn’t appear in a single playoff game he still got his name on the Stanley Cup due to his production during the regular season.
Dallas Drake - Fourth Line Forward
Regular season: C
Playoffs: A-
Drake was a solid contributor on the fourth line but struggled during the regular season when he was bumped up to the third line. Dallas Drake, though, wasn’t brought in for his contributions during the regular season; he was brought in to run defensemen during the playoffs. It’s a job he’s obviously qualified for and he was great for Detroit during the playoffs. Just ask Stephane Robidas.
Drake, along with Darren Helm, Darren McCarty, Johan Franzen, Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart provided the Wings with a physical element that was vital in Detroit’s Stanley Cup championship run. Drake’s style of play always carries the risk of putting your team short-handed and he was sent to the box for 12 minutes in penalties during the playoffs. But the benefits of causing turnovers through tenacious forechecking far outweighed the penalties that were called.
Kris Draper - Third Line Forward
Regular season: C+
Playoffs: C+
With Pavs, Hank Zetterberg and Valtteri Filppula being able to match up against most scoring lines Draper has seen his workload tail off a bit. Like Chelios he’s gone from being an excellent defensive player [former Selke winner in his own right] to being a specialist who excels in the faceoff circle and makes important contributions on the PK. He won nearly 65% of the draws he took during the playoffs. Those wins are particularly beneficial when the faceoffs are being taken in your defensive end.
Valtteri Filppula - Second Line Forward
Regular season: B+
Playoffs: A-
Fil had a bit of a breakout season as he potted 19 goals and took over the second line center spot that opened up when Robert Lang moved on to Chicago. But he was even better during the playoffs, as he averaged a point every other game and was a very respectable +7 while only being sent to the box for two penalty minutes. Assuming the Red Wings can get him and Johan Franzen signed to long-term deals both players will play a major role in providing Detroit with second-line scoring for years to come.
Johan Franzen - Second Line Forward
Regular season: A
Playoffs: A
Mule got off to a slow start, but in fields like professional sports where you are judged based on results the biggest consideration isn’t how you start but how you finish. Franzen was the hottest goal-scorer in the league from March through the end of the season and tied teammate Hank Zetterberg for the most playoff goals despite missing six playoff games due to a bruised brain.
In a season where you best several franchise marks once held by Gordie freaking Howe you are given straight A’s.
Dominik Hasek - Goalie 1A…or is it 1B?
Regular season: C
Playoffs: F
Dom took his time last summer trying to decide if he wanted to return for another season in Detroit. It turns out his apparent reservations were very reasonable. He struggled to attain any sort of consistent performance all season long. If not for Detroit’s puck possession style of play it might have been a pretty ugly final season for the Dominator.
To his credit Dom didn’t sugar-coat his drop-off in play when he was pulled during the Nashville series. At least he was able to go out in style having won a Jennings trophy and will have his name etched onto the Stanley Cup for a second time.
Darren Helm - Fourth Line Forward
Regular season: incomplete
Playoffs: B+
Helm has been described as being a Kris Draper clone but the past two seasons also suggest that he’s a clutch performer. After leading Medicine Hat to the Memorial Cup final last season he centered the fourth line for Detroit during the playoffs. He put up 4 points and was +2 while helping the Red Wings roll four lines.
Tomas Holmstrom - First Line Forward
Regular Season: B
Playoffs: B
Homer had an injury-plagued season but contributed in his usual manner when he was able to dress for games. He scored 20 or more goals for the fourth time in five years and scored 4 goals and tallied 8 assists during the playoffs despite being held together with chicken wire and duct tape while nursing sports hernia and hamstring injuries. Holmstrom is like Scotty from Star Trek, where his determination and resolve results in him somehow coaxing his vessel to perform beyond what can be reasonably expected. Oh, and no one has any idea what the hell he’s saying either due to his heavy accent.
Jiri Hudler - Fourth Line Forward
Regular Season: C
Playoffs: B
The diminutive winger got more ice time this season and even played a fair amount on a scoring line during the regular season. Unfortunately it didn’t result in the increase in point production his time on the fourth line during the previous season would have suggested. Hudler was put back on the fourth line during the playoffs and once again started producing offense at a solid clip.
Adding scoring to the fourth line would have garnered a higher grade if not for the fact Huds took some bad penalties late in games during the Stanley Cup finals. With that being said he proved he’s a force on the fourth line and could challenge for scoring line minutes next season.
Tomas Kopecky - 3rd/4th Line Forward
Regular season: B
Playoffs: incomplete
Kopy really seemed to grow into his role as a banger this season and it resulted in him getting under the skin of a lot of opposing players. He led all Detroit forwards in hits during the regular season and started going to the front of the net in the offensive zone. I was really looking forward to seeing how he’d do in the playoffs but a knee injury put an end to his season. If Dallas Drake and Darren McCarty aren’t in the lineup next season it will be up to Kopecky to continue to carry out that role.
Niklas Kronwall - Second Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: A
Playoffs: A
Like Datsyuk’s new contract, there were plenty of detractors who wondered about the contract extension Niklas Kronwall signed. Kronner responded to the faith the organization placed in him by having a breakout season. He finished 5th in the NHL in plus/minus amongst defensemen, and that was without a legitimate #4 d-man playing alongside Kronner.
During the playoffs he tied for 10th in point production amongst all skaters but was tops amongst blue liners in point total. He also tied Henrik Zetterberg for best plus/minus rating in the playoffs. If Brad Stuart decides that he can definitely get used to competing for Stanley Cups year in and year out then the Wings will have an excellent second pairing to complement the first pairing of Lidstrom and Rafalski.
Here were what was purported to be Kronwall’s 5 biggest hits during the playoffs:
Somehow they failed to include this heat-seeking missile of a hit:
That right there is a half-dozen really great open-ice hits. Kronwall is going to be a fan favorite for a long time.
Brett Lebda - Third Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: C
Playoffs: B+
Brett Lebda has become a fixture on the third pairing. During the injury parade that took place in February he was given a chance to play on the second pairing and it really didn’t go so well. So at this point he’s a decent third pairing rearguard. But he performed reasonably well during the playoffs, finishing even in terms of plus/minus. He only put up two assists, but the main thing you are asking him to do is be solid in his own end and get the puck out of his defensive zone. He fulfilled those duties quite capably and also didn’t seem to struggle along the boards like he did last year in the playoffs.
Nicklas Lidstrom - First Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: A
Playoffs: A
Ken Holland provided Nick Lidstrom with what could turn out to be his best partner on defense and all the captain did was have one of his best seasons in terms of plus/minus and point production. He followed that up with one of his finer playoff performances en route to his fourth Stanley Cup championship. The five man unit of Lids, Rafalski, Z, Datsyuk and Homer could end up being one of those groups that is remembered quite fondly for a long time.
Andreas Lilja - Third Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: C
Playoffs: B
Lilja had a season that was very similar to his sometime-partner on defense Brett Lebda. Lilja performed admirably in the playoffs last season after Niklas Kronwall and Mathieu Schneider were lost to injuries. He was given a chance to lock down the 4th d-man slot this year but struggled during the regular season. He was eventually put back on the third line and he was most effective there.
He played during the earlier rounds of the playoffs and replaced Chris Chelios during the Stanley Cup finals. He finished the playoffs +3 and registered a lone assist. He was also a valuable PKer as he led all Red Wings during the regular season in blocked shots.
Kirk Maltby - 3rd/4th Line Forward
Regular season: C-
Playoffs: C
Maltby has become a minus player over the past few seasons but he plays a specific role as far as being a pest and also chipping in on the PK. He played in 12 playoff games and was even in plus/minus while chipping in one assist. He seems like a guy who’s contributions are going to be less noticeable during the regular season but will still be somewhat effective during the playoffs.
Darren McCarty - Fourth Line Forward
Regular season: incomplete
Playoffs: C
D-Mac seemed to be a guy who - much like Aaron Downey - brought certain intangibles to the Red Wings locker room. When the Wings were killing off a penalty late in one of the games against the Penguins Mike Babcock commented on how McCarty was yelling out his support from the bench to his teammates. He only played three games but tallied one assist and was +2. He’s easily the most divisive Red Wing as some fans hate him for his off the ice issues while others love him for his down to earth demeanor. It’s entirely reasonable to wonder how long he’ll continue to toe the line but the Red Wings seem open to bringing him back next season.
Derek Meech - Reserve Defenseman
Regular season: B-
Playoffs: incomplete
Meech was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the D-man carnage that took place during February. He showed some signs of being a capable offensive defenseman but finished the season -5. While it wasn’t an ideal way to get his feet wet with extended action in the NHL he gave the team reason to keep him on the roster.
Chris Osgood - Goalie 1B…or is it 1A?
Regular season: A-
Playoffs: A
I said at some point during the season that Chris Osgood’s journey back into the fold was an afterthought if we even gave it that much thought. And when he was signed to a contract extension most people seemed okay with the decision due entirely to the low dollar amount of the deal. Little did we know he’d end up backstopping the team to their 4th title in 11 years and the franchise’s 11th title overall.
Sure, he had a great team in front of him; but when you lead the league in GAA in the regular season and playoffs you merit straight A’s. Ozzie hit a minor slump shortly after the All Star break so I dinged him a bit for his regular season grade.
Brian Rafalski - First Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: B+
Playoffs: A
Rafi struggled a bit early on, which is to be expected given his move from the Devils and the Eastern Conference to Detroit. But he still ended up having one of his best seasons of his NHL career, tying his career-high point total but setting a new mark for goals scored. He saved his best for last as he led all defensemen in goals scored during the playoffs and finished one point behind Niklas Kronwall for most points amongst blue liners.
Mikael Samuelsson - Second Line Forward
Regular season: C-
Playoffs: B
Sammy saw his goal scoring production fall off a cliff during the regular season. While Samuelsson is a very solid two-way player the Wings need players like him and Dan Cleary to put up 20 or more goals per season. He only scored 11 goals during the regular season while playing 73 games, and that includes playing on the point on the second power play unit.
He responded quite nicely during the playoffs though, potting 5 goals, 8 assists and going +8.
Brad Stuart - Second Pairing Defenseman
Regular season: incomplete
Playoffs: A-
Brad Stuart likely has a very interesting decision on his hands. Rumors suggest he is likely to sign with a team on the west coast as soon as July 1st when he becomes a free agent. However if he decides to stay in Detroit as the #4 d-man he will put himself in position to play on a team where he can have a lot of success.
Stuart’s contributions during the regular season were minimal as he dealt with a broken finger and spent time with his family when his wife was giving birth. However he was a perfect compliment to Niklas Kronwall on the second line as they were the sandpaper pairing that was brutally effective during the playoffs. Kronner had most of the highlight-reel hits but this shot on Sid Crosby was most excellent.
Staurt was also pegged as being an offensive defenseman when he entered the league but his production has been sporadic at best. That changed during the playoffs as he put up 7 points and was +15. If he plays a full season alongside Kronner there’s a good chance his offensive production easily outpaces his best seasons to date. The Red Wings have put on the full court press to let Stuart know they want to keep him in the Winged Wheel sweater.
Henrik Zetterberg - First Line Forward
Regular season: A
Playoffs: A
Yes, Z, the grades are in fact done alphabetically. He quipped when he found out he was drafted with the 210th overall pick that he didn’t know the NHL did the draft alphabetically. If there’s a bigger steal than the Red Wings paying Hank $2.65mm this season then it’s news to me. During the regular season he established career highs in goals, assists and plus/minus. His 43 goals are the most by a Red Wing since Brendan Shanahan potted 46 during the 1996-97 season. He is the odds on favorite to win the Selke trophy as the best defensive forward.
Z continued his dominance during the playoffs, where he led all players in goals, points and plus/minus en route to winning the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoff MVP. He was the second European player to win the award, following in the footsteps of Nicklas Lidstrom who won the award following the 2001-02 season.
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Excellent post!! I missed your doing your grades during the season.
That ass kicking in Denver is when I developed a huge man-crush on Downey. I hope he has a role on the Wings next season.
Thanks Al! I think with the roster changes it was difficult to get a real good handle on the team. So I kept putting off the grading during the season.
Aaron Downey has a lot of fans who have a crush on him and I think there’s a good shot he’ll be on the team next season. Another great mark in his favor is he was reported to be great in the locker room during the playoffs when he didn’t play at all. That’s a huge plus in his favor…in addition to beating the crap out of Avalanche players.