commentary...

Red Wings have loaded up on their defensive side,in free agency,and also in NHL draft... they do need to stiffen up their defense around the net... they also need a backup in net,to help Howard out,because he basically tired himself out,in the playoffs,last season... when Chris Osgood went down with a sports hernia,there was the weakest spot on the team... Jimmy Howard had a very good year,but having a backup,from the American Hockey League,most of the second half of the season really hurt the team in the long run... Nicklas Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy for the seventh time in his career,so he is one of the all-time great defensemen,in NHL,and having him teach defense to the rest of the defense can only help out the team... Pavel Datsyuk,Henrik Zetterberg,and Tomas Holmstrom hold up the offense,and will help the offensive side of the team... they will fight for the division,with Chicago,and Nashville close behind,in third... if the Red Wings can find a suitable backup in net,or Chris Osgood comes back at,or near,100%,they will be tough to beat for the Central Division crown,because there are very good coaches,in that division(Mike Babcock-Red Wings,Joel Quenneville-Blackhawks,and Barry Trotz-Predators),but in my opinion,all three coaches did one heck of a job last season-all three made the playoffs,and Chicago,and Detroit had major injuries,and major depth problems throughout season,and Barry Trotz has had a team with limited offensive punch,for years,and a goaltender who was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy,last season,but have made playoffs,the last few years,so the Central Division will be bruising to each team,and expect a Central Division team to be fighting for the Stanley Cup,next season