2019 Detroit Red Wings Odds to win Stanley Cup with Expert Predictions

The recent history of the Detroit Red Wings is proof that nothing last forever - even when it seems like it will. The Red Wings were long the most stable, reliable franchise in all of sports. For more than two decades they made the playoffs every year and did so while avoiding drama or distractions. They were run like a team was supposed to be run. But now we are three years into a rebuild, and it sure doesn't feel like we are anywhere near the end - or even that there is a map in place to lead them to the end. It always seemed like the team could find a way to reload and continue on being tough and dangerous, but right now they are short on talent, lacking depth, and just plain not very good. For hockey handicappers , though, there is a big positive that this team brings us. The Eastern Conference is incredibly deep and tough to figure out right now, so at least the Red Wings are easy - we know they aren't a playoff team no matter what.

Detroit Red Wings Offseason Moves

The biggest move came in the front office. After serving as general manager since 1997, Ken Holland left the team to take over the same role - and another fairly directionless rebuild - in Edmonton. His replacement in Steve Yzerman, one of the biggest stars ever to wear Detroit colors, and the architect of the great team in Tampa Bay. Yzerman is saddled with a roster with some serious issues and some contracts that will require patience or some real artistry to overcome, but he is capable of making some serious progress if he is given the luxury of time.

It wasn't a particularly active offseason. The team added backup goalie Calvin Pickard and depth defenseman Patrick Nemeth in free agency, and it brought back ancient forward Valtteri Filppula, who last played for the Wings in 2013 and whose best days are far behind him. And they grabbed depth forward Adam Erne in a minor trade from Tampa as the Lightning were looking to dump salary to bring back Brayden Point. It was hardly an impactful offseason.

In what qualified as one of the biggest surprises of the draft, the team took German defenseman Moritz Seider sixth overall. He's a talented guy, but he quite likely won't provide an immediate impact, and he would likely have been available lower down the board.

Detroit Red Wings NHL Outlook

There is really no way to sugar coat this - this team is bad. Really bad. They probably won't be as bad as Ottawa, but there is a long, long way between Ottawa and good teams. They just don't have enough talent to be relevant - or even close. Dylan Larkin has superstar potential. And a couple of other guys are solid enough. But the defense is mostly a mess, the goaltending is old and questionable, and the offensive depth just isn't there. There is room in the NHL for teams to take big steps forward in a hurry - Colorado and New Jersey, among others, have done it in recent years. But they have all had much more going for their teams than this one does. If Yzerman can manage a turnaround here in less than four or five years, he really is a miracle worker.

Detroit Red Wings Schedule

In the first 13 games of the season, the Red Wings have several against softer opponents - one against Anaheim, two each against Ottawa and Vancouver, and one against Buffalo. That means that almost half of their schedule in October is manageable - which at least gives the team to not get off to a totally embarrassing start. Maybe.

Detroit Red Wings NHL Futures Odds

The Red Wings should be thankful for the Senators, because that keeps them out of the cellar in all of the futures markets. They are at +10000 to win the Stanley Cup , +5000 to win the Eastern Conference, and +10000 to win the Atlantic Division. It's not too common you see a team being less likely to win the division than the conference. Their season point total is set at 75.5, with balanced action. They are +400 to make the playoffs, compared to -500 to miss them.

2019-20 Detroit Red Wings Predictions

It is possible - maybe even probable - that there is some nice value in betting that the Wings won't make the playoffs at -500. It's just not happening. There are a whole lot of good teams in the East right now, and it is going to take a very high level of play to get into the postseason. Last year Montreal had 96 points and missed the postseason, and that could be what it takes again this year. The only way Detroit is getting to that level of points is if you add two seasons of points together. It's going to be a very long season.

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