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The Detroit Red Wings achieved a .500 record for the first time after the All-Star break since their last playoff appearance in 2015-16, thanks to a dominant third period that secured victory over the Philadelphia Flyers last Wednesday.
As we approach the finish line, there are numerous potential outcomes to be contemplated. However, thus far in the NHL season, the Red Wings have shown themselves to be a noteworthy and formidable team, bringing a fresh and distinctive approach that contrasts significantly with the team fans have grown accustomed to over the last five years.
The victory in Philadelphia exemplified the positive developments thus far: Dylan Larkin maintained his impressive performance by scoring first for Detroit. Lucas Raymond and the second line, led by Tyler Bertuzzi, provided the necessary spark to push Detroit ahead. As the game concluded, rookie defenseman Moritz Seider not only earned two more points but also showcased his exceptional penalty-killing skills.
How much progress have the Wings made this season? Is there a possibility that their rookie stars can win the Calder Trophy?
Red Wings rookies making big contributions
First, let’s begin by discussing the standout rookies: Raymond, Seider, and goaltender Alex Nedejlkovic.
Over the past few years, the Red Wings have found solace in the scoring prowess of prospects and rookies, particularly Filip Zadina, despite their losses. However, this season has witnessed a significant shift as the team’s rookies have emerged as crucial contributors in securing victories, playing a pivotal role in the team’s improved success rate.
With 38 points in 49 games, Raymond dominates as the top rookie scorer in the NHL, boasting a remarkable five-point lead over second-place Trevor Zegras.
Seider’s impressive scoring record of 32 points surpasses all other rookie defensemen, but that’s just the beginning of the story. His exceptional defensive skills have significantly bolstered Detroit’s unstable blue line.
Meanwhile, Nedeljkovic holds the top position among rookie goaltenders (with a minimum of 20 starts) in both save percentage (.910) and wins (14).
Calder Trophy odds
Let’s focus on the Calder Award futures, which were highly anticipated by Red Wings fans before the season. While there is much to discuss about the implications for the team moving forward, it’s important to address this particular aspect.
Now might be the perfect time to consider cashing out if you took a chance on Raymond to win the NHL’s Rookie of the Year award when the odds were over +2000 (he was at +3400 during preseason).
Although he has a solid advantage over Zegras in terms of points, Raymond (+250) is currently behind Zegras in the Calder odds (+195) according to FanDuel Sportsbook MI.
As of Monday morning, Raymond was the favored player at DraftKings Sportsbook MI with odds of +225, followed by Zegras at +250 and Seider at +300. However, Seider’s odds at FanDuel are higher at +550.
However, it is evident that the NHL is actively promoting Zegras. One can clearly observe this through the All-Star Game, where the league made exceptions to include Zegras but not Raymond or Seider. This serves as evidence that the NHL is positioning Zegras as their top rookie in terms of marketing.
Zegras possesses all the qualities of a star player. The NHL and its media partners have showered him with praise, recognizing him as a young talent that represents the future of the league. His team has seen a remarkable improvement since he joined, and he consistently delivers jaw-dropping plays that capture the attention of even casual viewers.
In contrast, Seider scored another goal on Saturday by expertly defeating Philadelphia’s Carter Hart. This remarkable goal garnered significant attention online, while Detroit secured its second consecutive victory. With 32 points in 49 games, there is ample evidence to suggest that Seider can accumulate the required statistics to firmly establish himself in that discussion.
Putting aside his flashy style (which he undoubtedly possesses), Seider has proven himself to be the most remarkable rookie in the NHL this year. With a significant number of games played, his exceptional skills have become evident.
No matter what the voters decide by the end of the year, make sure to appreciate the performance of Detroit’s rookie trio throughout the rest of the season. The most important thing is that they are propelling Detroit into the realm of contenders, and there is no doubt that they are successfully achieving that.
Red Wings just outside of playoffs
Despite being seven points behind a wildcard spot, the Red Wings (22-21-6) are currently the team with the best chance of surpassing Boston or Washington and securing the final playoff spot in the East.
Despite the anticipated comeback of Jakub Vrana, it will still be challenging to overcome. This is evident in the Red Wings playoff odds, which indicate their chances of qualifying for the postseason as being [insert odds].
In the standings, Boston currently holds a seven-point lead over the Wings, and they also have four additional games yet to be played. Meanwhile, Detroit has the same number of games played as Washington, who holds an 11-point lead over the Wings.
Please rewrite the given prompt.
Numbers show clear improvement year over year
However, one must consider different perspectives, folks.
The team has made significant progress, with a record of 22-21-6, which is five wins better than their performance through 49 games in the 2020-21 season (17-25-7). Furthermore, it marks a remarkable 10-win improvement from the disastrous 2019-20 season (12-33-4).
While not significant strides, these are undoubtedly crucial advancements that could potentially set the stage for playoff aspirations in the upcoming season.
In addition to that, the Red Wings have made significant progress in maintaining their presence in games and successfully bouncing back from deficits.
Last season, Detroit failed to secure a victory in any game where they were behind after the second period. However, this year, they have managed to attain a record of 3 wins, 17 losses, and 1 tie in such situations. Additionally, when conceding the first goal this season, the Red Wings have achieved a record of 7 wins, 15 losses, and 4 ties. These figures surpass their win totals from the preceding seasons of 2020-21 (6 wins, 21 losses, and 4 ties) and 2019-20 (6 wins, 32 losses, and 3 ties).
While these statistics may not indicate a miraculous transformation, they do highlight the remaining tasks at hand. However, they do provide insight into the factors contributing to the additional victories: determination and effective scoring.
By the way …
Detroit’s stars are shining
Dylan Larkin, the captain of the Red Wings, is currently on a hot streak.
At 43 games into the season, he has amassed 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists), surpassing his point total from last year (23) in just one game less. If Larkin, who is 25 years old, participates in all 33 remaining games on Detroit’s schedule, he is projected to reach 82 points, surpassing his previous season-best by seven points.
Bertuzzi has also been exceptional. Despite only participating in nine games during the 2020-21 season, Bertuzzi, who will be 27 later this month, has managed to maintain a scoring rate of over one point per game.
However, Bertuzzi’s impressive performance of scoring 23 goals and providing 19 assists in just 41 games, which puts him within six points of reaching his career-high in a single season, is not his only contribution. His versatility to play in any position within the lineup has allowed the Red Wings to experiment with different line combinations without negatively affecting the chemistry in the top-6 players.
Initially, Larkin and Bertuzzi were paired up on Detroit’s top line. However, Bertuzzi has now joined forces with former Guelph Storm teammates Pius Suter and Robby Fabbri. On the other hand, Larkin has remained a consistent presence as the team’s number one center. Various left wingers have been given the opportunity to team up with him and Raymond.
Regardless of how you look at it, Larkin and Bert (accompanied by their new rookie sidekick) have been leading the charge for Detroit.
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