NHL division previews: 2017-18 Atlantic Division preview

NHL division previews: 2017-18 Atlantic Division

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 08: Montreal Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk (27) gets congratulated on his game winning goal in overtime during the NHL hockey game between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings on April 8, 2017, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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The 2017-18 NHL season is quickly approaching, and with it are coming all the season and team previews. We are going to be taking a look at each division, and how they will pan out this season. Here is the Atlantic Division.

The 2017-18 Atlantic Division preview is here to take a look at one of the more top-heavy divisions in the NHL. The Atlantic has some strong teams in it, like the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs, but after that you never know what you’re going to get.

Without further adieu, let’s dive in!

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 25: The Detroit Red Wings line up for the National Anthem during the Detroit Red Wings preseason game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 25, 2017, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

8th in 2017-18 Atlantic Division Standings – Detroit Red Wings

In what has been a collapse of epic proportions, the Red Wings now find themselves among the five worst teams in the NHL. While they do have some decent young talent, they are overall one of the least appealing organizations for the immediate future.

They will rely heavily on Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar for scoring and will hope Henrik Zetterberg can continue to defy his age for additional help offensively. However, for a team that has plummeted into the bottom fifth in NHL scoring in the last two seasons, there isn’t much hope for this trend being broken this season.

On the back-end, it’s not much brighter of an outlook. With Danny DeKeyser and Mike Green likely operating on the first pairing, and a mixture of Trevor Daley, Xavier Ouellet, Nick Jensen and an aging Niklas Kronwall in the second and third pairings, the goaltenders aren’t going to get a ton of help in the form of shot suppression.

As for the goaltending, it looks much the same as last season. The Wings are coming in with Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek as their netminders. Both have had flashes of quality over the last two seasons, but that’s about it. They have been inconsistent, at best, and with a sub-par defensive corps in front of them, they won’t be getting a ton of help.

If you’re expecting the Wings to make a jump back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, don’t hold your breath. You’re in for a long rebuild, Wings fans.

Player to watch in 2017-18: Dylan Larkin