Whoever Said This Franchise Is Done Is Sadly Mistaken

Being Red Wings fans, every year we hear reasons as to why the team may struggle for a playoff spot and how this team is currently on it's demise from being the once dominate team from the past 20 years.

Not as dominate as it once was? Sure. On its demise? Not even close.

This year has brought new feeling to Hockeytown and fans alike of the Detroit Red Wings.

This team is a shadow of its former self, but the future of this team doesn't look bad, not in the slightest.

They still have the regular faces: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, to name a few - but with the old, come new.

This year has seen the rise of young talents Tomas Tatar, Joakim Andersson, Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith.

And thats not all our future has in store.

Tatar has filled in his role admirably and obviously, he has shown that he will one day be a top-six forward. Andersson has proven to be a legitimate fourth line centre while Lashoff and Smith have come into their own as defensemen ready to stay with the big club (namely Lashoff who has done better than anyone has expected.)

And there still are some more young, talented and skilled players ready to progress into NHL stars.

Firstly, we can't forget Gustav Nyquist who has continued to perform great for the Grand Rapids Griffins this year as he leads the American Hockey League with 56 points.

Along with Nyquist, Calle Jarnkrok who is currently playing with Brynas in the Elitserien.

Riley Sheahan has started to ripen in a great two-way player as he has put up 33 points in GR.

Landon Ferraro seems to finally be blossoming into the player the Red Wings expected him to become when they drafted him at 32nd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Tomas Jurco, though still a few years away, is already with the Griffins and looks to be headed in the right direction with development.

Let's not forget about Petr Mrazek, who proved this year that he is ready to make the jump to the NHL in the next couple of years full-time.

The list goes on and on.

So Hockeytown, breathe. The Red Wings will make the playoffs this year. The following years are going to be special.

If a team in transition is still making the playoffs, then with things going right with our prospects, Hockeytown will remain Hockeytown for many years to come.