In fact, I think the fact that he was practicing with that notched stick the other day probably means he's doing OK.

Sure, but it's still an edge and this year's Red Wings team seems to have enough psychological problems on their own before adding a psychological edge to the mix.

"That's not the same as enduring success."

Yeah, but what does that mean? To win a round in the playoffs you only need to beat a team four times.

"which is something they've gotten further and further from since 2008."

And that's one of the primary reasons that I think there need to be personnel changes. This is, for the most part, been the same team running for three years. How long does it take to realize that the group of guys you have are do not go together to make a winning formula?

In 96 the Wings set a record for regular season wins and lost in the conference finals. Did they sit back and just assume that the exact same team would with the Cup the next season? No, they added Shanahan and Murphy.

This team has lost in the second round twice and all you hear from Holland and Babcock is "we like our team". Well, that's wonderful that you've got a group of terrific, friendly guys who are fun to hang around with, but how about trying to get better instead of just assuming that as Todd Bertuzzi gets older he's somehow going to morph back into the big, strong, 80-100 point power forward he was from 2000 to 2002? Or just assuming that Johan Franzen IS a 40 goal scorer instead of the streaky 20-25 goal scorer that he's proven himself to be? Or assuming that Zetterberg is going to get his touch back when the playoffs come? Or pretending that Bertuzzi and Hudler are going to continue to play above their level like they are?

If they stand pat and do nothing, who could blame Lidstrom if he decided that he didn't want to come back and captain another team that's going to be satisfied to do well in the regular season and then lose in the second round?

As fo the other teams, of course there are teams that would give them fits. That's not the same as enduring success. We'll see. I don't know that there's anything that can be done that would improve the Wings to such a degree as to make them a definite lock to beat their rivals in the West. What would improve their chances is them buying back into a team game, which is something they've gotten further and further from since 2008.

I also think that there are a handful of teams in the West that would, at the very least, give the Wings fits in the playoffs.

San Jose and Vancouver are essentially the same teams they were last year, and of the other teams in the playoff picture Detroit is virtually the only one that isn't better than they were last year.

I believe that Zetterberg and Franzen will become more consistent as the playoffs arrive, and I love what Filppula and Datsyuk are doing (though it seems there might be something wrong with Datsyuk right now).

And you're right, the key part IS "if Jimmy starts 60+ games", and right now I think the backup situation (at least until Jimmy comes back and Conklin is hopefully waived in favour of Joey Mac or some other upgrade) is as bad as or worse than last year. And this is personal, but I don't have any confidence that Bertuzzi and Hudler can keep of their pace.

I guess we'll see.

I'm not against upgrades, but I'm also pulling for the current crop to get their heads straight.

As for Hudler and Bertuzzi, they may be flashes in the pan right now, but Zetterberg for one should be upping his game going forward. Add Filppula's big season and Datsyuk's latest Hart bid, and you're doing okay.

Should it though? On paper they're almost the exact same team that couldn't get past the Sharks last year. Or the year before.

Jimmy's been better, but the PP and PK are both worse. And if Jimmy starts 60+ games, who will give a shit about whether or not he gets the regular season wins record of the team bows out in the second round again, partly because they overworked their starter in the playoffs.

I actually think the Wings have just about everything they need on paper. It's just that attitude is a problem, and no amount of failed comebacks or blown leads has fixed it. It may be a shake-up is needed, but in theory, what they have should work. They just need to get their heads on straight. And that's leadership/coaching. I'm hugely disappointed in Bashill/Peters, for one thing.