Hockey beat writers at Detroit's dailies take slap shots at the home team with a 15-19-7 record at the season's halfway mark.
"Self-destruct" is how Helene St. James of the Freep describes the Red Wings' pattern so far. "They keep losing — and there’s no end in sight," writes Ted Kulfan at The News. "They’ve won only once in their last 10 games, and only three times since Dec. 12. . . . For the third consecutive season, the Wings look like surefire misses for the playoffs."
Photo: Detroit Red Wings
Kulfan cites fresh damage Monday night:
They ushered in the New Year with another gut-wrenching loss, watching a three-goal lead disappear in a 4-3 shootout loss to Florida.
Both sportwriters look ahead to the NHL draft on June 21-22 in Vancouver. "For the longterm success of the organization, the Wings are better off finishing low in the standings and improving their draft-lottery odds," St. James suggests in the Free Press.
Kulfan writes:
At their current pace, when late February rolls around, the Wings probably will be shopping veterans – potential unrestricted free agents, such as Gustav Nyquist, maybe Jimmy Howard – while adding those draft picks they’ve done such a good job stockpiling in recent years.
In this brief locker room clip from The News, Gustav Nyquist talks about his team's most recent collapse:
