Defense no longer a question mark for Red Wings

By Dave Waddell –

What a difference a year makes.

A year ago, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland’s focus was on trying to plug the many holes on a tattered defense that had seen the departures of Nick Lidstrom and Brad Stuart.

He was roundly criticized for his inability to land a big-name blue-liner and his ensuing decision to see what the kids could do.

Well, the kids proved alright.

“Eighteen months ago was ‘try and be lean (lots of cap space)’ and go into free agency in 2012 because there was potential for a whole lot of high-profile players,” Holland said.

“We were lean and we did go in and we came within a whisker of getting one and we didn’t. So when you lose Lidstrom and you lose Stuart and you lost Holmstrom you’re going a little bit into the unknown.”

The Wings decision to see what they had on their hands proved a wise decision, though it took nearly until the season’s last four weeks to clearly see that.

Detroit ultimately finished fifth in the NHL in goals-against, the best finish since the Wings last Stanley Cup in 2008.

While veteran defenseman Jonathan Ericsson upped his game to another level with his promotion to the first pairing, it was the growth of youngsters like Brendan Smith, Jakub Kindl and the late-season addition of Western Michigan product Danny DeKeyser that have made Detroit’s defense much better than  people give it credit for.

Of course the further emergence of goalie Jimmy Howard into a consistent, top-quality puck stopper last season was also an enormous help, especially early in the season.

However, Holland’s off-season actions confirm he no longer has doubts about his club’s blue-line. Enough so that he has jettisoned two veterans this summer, Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo, who were counted in Detroit’s top four heading into last season.

“We didn’t lose in the playoffs because of our defense, we struggled to score goals if Pavel (Datsyuk) and Hank (Zetterberg) didn’t do it,” Holland said.

Indeed in losing in overtime of Game 7 to ultimate Stanley Cup champion Chicago, the Wings allowed fewer goals (16) in the series than a supposedly much superior Boston defense did in the finals against the Hawks (17) in six games.

“I look at the resume of a player,” Holland said of his belief in youngsters like Smith.

“Brendan Smith was the best, high-scoring defenseman in college hockey as a junior and he was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. We put him down in the American Hockey League to spend some time to learn how to play defense because we know he can play offense.”

DeKeyser was named the top defenseman in the CCHA last season and proved a revelation at the NHL level. Brian Lashoff also took a surprising step forward that made White and Colaiacovo expendable.

The Wings also have a boatload of other blue-chip defensive prospects debuting at the AHL level this fall. Suddenly, what looked like a weakness is turning into a long-term strength.

“I think I grew a lot actually,” Smith said of his first NHL season.

“I think I went through a lot of challenges and I did a really good job of getting better at it and understanding what’s it’s like to play at the NHL level. I think it was a great season actually.”

Smith was rewarded with a new two-year contract last month worth just over $2.5-million. He knows he must continue to improve defensively in the upcoming campaign.

“I think there’s a lot I need to improve on,” Smith said.

“Just playing a little bit better in my own end and defensively being a little bit more sound. That’s something that’s going to keep me around the league for a long time.

“I know my strengths. I can chip in offensively. I know I can. That’s not something that I’m worried about.”

Smith had eight assists in 34 games and was plus-one during the regular season, but chipped in with two goals and five points in 14 playoff contests.

The progress was even more pronounced last season for Kindl.

In a make-or-break season for his future with the Wings, Kindl earned himself a new four-year deal worth $2.4-million a season last month.

Kindl finished with four goals, 13 points and was a plus-15 during the regular season and added another four points in the playoffs.

He credits taking advantage of last season’s lockout to play in Europe for preparing him for the NHL schedule.

“It really helped me out when I went overseas and played with all of the minutes and all of the situations,” Kindl said.

“It got me ready and gave me all of the confidence in the world to come here and play.”

Kindl said there was never a question in his mind that he would re-sign in Detroit this summer after last season.

Now, with the Wings looking to have successfully started forward on transitioning from a veteran team to one much younger all the while staying competitive, the itch to pick up where they left off is turning into a club-wide epidemic.

“I’m optimistic every year,” Holland said.

“I know that not a lot of people think like I do. But at the end of the day, I get to go to Grand Rapids. I get to go to the World Juniors.

“I think for the first time people are starting to see, there’s some kids and there’s more kids on the horizon.”