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Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings #16: Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are starting to get old. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg have given everything but their souls to Detroit. It took a while, but it’s finally beginning to show. Thankfully, Detroit has several young forwards in Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist who appear to be ready to take the reigns from Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

Detroit’s blueline finally got the right-handed defenseman who they traded away and coveted for what seemed like forever: Mike Green. If Green is healthy, he’s a flawless fit in Detroit. Detroit has needed a strong right-handed option on the power play for several years. Green gives them exactly that as he was one of the best power play QBs in the NHL in Washington.

Detroit made a sneaky good signing when they inked center Brad Richards. Detroit needed center depth. Richards is a proven winner who does exactly that.

The Red Wings have a bit of an issue in goal. Jimmy Howard was the starter for most of last season. However, Petr Mrazek wound up replacing him down the stretch and in the playoffs. Detroit must figure out who their starter is. If it’s Mrazek, they should trade Howard because it makes no sense to pay your backup goaltender over $5,000,000 a season on average.

Even without Mike Babcock, this is a playoff caliber team.

Next: #15