Mike Modano

At the end of every season, the NHL entry draft is held, and the general managers of each team take their best swing at securing prospects that will ultimately materialize into contributors at the NHL level at some point down the road.  

A general manager's ability to do so depends on both the quality of each team's scouting department and the number of quality players available in the talent pool, which typically can't be determined until at least five years after the draft takes place.  

The Detroit Red Wings are the closest thing to a dynasty that this hockey era will see.  The Red Wings continue to put together a competitive team that is always a threat to win the Stanley Cup despite never having great or even a good drafting position. 

Detroit is waiting to see whom they will play in the second round of the 2011 NHL Playoffs so while we wait let's look at 10 bold predictions for their offseason.

It’s easy to spot the scratched hockey player at the arena.

He’s the one in the loose-fitting suit, with hair that looks like it’s still damp from the shower. The face has clearly avoided the razor. There’s no necktie. He walks down the corridors looking like he jumped off the cover of GQ magazine.

The only thing worse than being a scratched hockey player, especially in the playoffs, is being a healthy scratched hockey player.

When the North Stars moved to the Lone Star state from Minnesota in 1993, many people believed hockey would never work in Big D.

How wrong those people were.

Since their inaugural season, the Stars have been one of the most successful teams in the NHL.

Over the last 18 years, the Stars have won two Presidents' Trophies, seven division championships (two Central, five Pacific), a Stanley Cup in 1999 and have only missed the playoffs four times.

A crucial component to success on the ice is the personnel that skates on it.

After last year's rash of injuries and an early playoff exit, every player on the Detroit Red Wings roster was coming into this year feeling rested and fully healthy.

The first time in a long time.

After a blistering 12-4-2 start out of the gate, the first injury hit.

Preceding a contest against the Tampa Bay Lighting, Markus Naslund's No. 19 was retired in front of his hometown fans in Vancouver.

Following one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history, the winger joined the Canucks in 1996. He would play 12 years with the 'Nucks, serving as captain during his final eight years in British Columbia.

Naslund owns the Canucks' all-time points record with 756.

His sweater became the third to be raised to the rafters following fellow former captains Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl.

I've written a lot this year about the young guns of the league.  Readers love to know how their prospects rank and who's living up to the hype. 

On the other side of the spectrum is a collection of players who might be playing on borrowed time.  Not all of the following are about to retire, but it won't be long before they take a trip down Brett Favre Street. 

The desire might be there, but their body says otherwise.  Whether it is wear and tear or changes in the game, these players will soon be taking a crash course in broadcasting. 

Coming out of the 2004-05 lockout season, the NHL implemented new rules and procedures to help raise scoring, emphasize skill and speed, gain new fans and most importantly, regain the fans lost due to the cancelled season.

Some of the new additions included a new standard of play that cracked down on holding and hooking penalties, a no-play zone for goalies (the trapezoid), new icing and penalty procedures and the biggest of the post-lockout additions, the shootout.

During the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings pursued Mike Modano.

Finally, on August 3, Modano inked a one-year contract.

After signing Modano, Detroit had visions of seeing a third line of the newly-acquired Modano, Dan Cleary and the returning Jiri Hudler.

Shortly after the Modano signing, Detroit became instant Cup favorites.

Cue the dramatics.

A picture-perfect start, if you will.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom may be close to achieving another milestone in his amazing hockey career. If Lidstrom continues to play at his current level and, barring no major injuries, Lidstrom could win his seventh Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman.