Forward Group: Encouraging Signs

As the start of the regular season looms, the Detroit Red Wing’ roster continues to raise questions.

 

There’s no secret: scoring woes that once plagued this team last season should no longer be an issue, if training camp has been any indicator. Prospects such as Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi and Martin Frk have had very noticeable preseason outings, while younger players and third- and fourth-liners have done well too.

 

Mantha scored twice while averaging 15:00 of ice-time through four games, while Frk has two goals and three points in four games with 13:07 of average ice-time. Athanasiou has four points in the same amount of matches, while Bertuzzi scored a beauty last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins while adding two helpers in four exhibition games.

 

Perhaps the biggest surprises in training camp have been some of the veterans. For instance, Steve Ott and Riley Sheahan currently lead their team with two goals and five points apiece in three games, while career AHLer Mitch Callahan is becoming a fan favorite by dropping the gloves and notching two tallies along with an assist.

 

Realistically, it’s unfair to assume that Ott will score regularly and the jury is still out on whether Callahan will join the team. In fact, no real decision has been made regarding any of those players.

 

Still, Red Wings fans should be quite content with what they’ve seen thus far. There are encouraging signs for a forward group that will necessarily need to pull together in an effort to participate in next Spring’s Stanley Cup playoffs.

 

What a send-off that would be for the Joe Louis Arena…