"So much for a transition year.

The offseason brought a bit more change than usual in the Red Wings dressing room. Chris Osgood, Brian Rafalski and Kris Draper were out. Ian White, Jakub Kindl, Ty Conklin and Mike Commodore were in.

The Red Wings are used to observers forecasting the beginning of their decline, as many have — amid no small amount of wishful thinking — for 15 years.

But that is not going to happen this season either, as the Red Wings made clear in 50 games before the All-Star break, compiling the best mark in the NHL (33-16-1). Unless their performance in the last 32 varies markedly, the Red Wings are poised to finish the regular season as one of the best teams in the game, with several teams in the West playing about as well.

At the break, the Red Wings boast the most points (67), with the sixth-lowest goals against (117) and the fourth-highest goals scored (160)."