30 Teams/30 Days: Detroit Red Wings

Outlook: After two straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances in 2008 and 2009, with one victory in 2008, how can one think the Detroit Red Wings are worse? Well there are a few answers to that. With a tight salary cap situation, the Wings did not make very many additions to their roster. Veteran forward Todd Bertuzzi was the most notable free agent signing and Patrick Eaves and Jason Williams were minor additions. Even with the minor additions, the Wings still have a lot of experience—after all they have been one of the leagues elite teams since 1992. Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg (despite a statistical setback in 2008-09) are still one of the top forwards in the league and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who turned 39 in April, has not lost a step. More good news for the fans in Motown for 2009-10 is the fact that a lot of potential could be seen on the ice. Some might consider that as a rebuilding process, but with a lot of the experience on the roster—...