Buffalo Sabres division rivals’ 2023 offseasons Part VI: Yzerplan Take 5

Verdict

So what can we make of the Detroit Red Wings this season? Closing out the previous section, I hit hard on the “team chemistry” thing, and whether this can be the year for the Wings.

While some steps back may be needed, Toronto, Florida, Boston, and Tampa should still be formidable teams once they hit midseason mode. And of course, the Buffalo Sabres already have chemistry, or else they wouldn’t have come so close to snagging a playoff spot last season.

This puts the Red Wings behind the eight-ball, because once again: The real-life NHL is not a video game. And while you can claim the Yzerplan may have worked once when he was with the Lightning, we can’t live in the past, as it hasn’t delivered anywhere close to the same results over in the Motor City.

Until Yzerman proves his plan is viable in Detroit, there is no way I can give this a positive verdict. At most, it’s one of those “wait and see” situations. Maybe it comes into fruition this season, or maybe there is just too much chemistry in the aforementioned cities (including Buffalo).

Source: Atlantic Division summer outlook: Are Sabres at the top of the ‘rebuilders’ group? by Mike Harrington, Buffalo News

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)