Detroit Red Wings: 5 Players That Need To Wake Up

The Detroit Red Wings are off to a strong start this year, going 5-1-1 in their first seven games.

They are tied for fifth in the NHL with 23 goals scored and tied for fourth with only 17 goals against.

After seven games, Detroit's second line of Todd Bertuzzi, Johan Franzen and Valtteri Filppula seems to be clicking on all aspects.

Franzen has scored in every game he has played in but one, which is exactly what coach Mike Babcock loves to see after the injury-plagued season the Mule had last year in Detroit.

Up to the last game, Bertuzzi had led the team in points.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg seem to be back to their point-producing ways that left them last year, and Nick Lidstrom, at 40 years of age, is averaging a point per game thus far.

Zetterberg had been quiet through the first four games, only registering two points, but has been hot as of late, registering eight points in his last four games.

But with all the positives, there are always bound to be some some negatives.

Although it has only been seven games into the NHL season, some players coming over to Detroit were highly anticipated and had generated quite the buzz before the season began.

We will now take a look at those players that haven't really been a factor yet in the great start for the Red Wings.

 

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