NHL Fantasy Briefs: Detroit Red Wings

No-brainers

Players you should be drafting in all standard formats:

• Jimmy Howard: Coming off his best season, yet, it will need to be seen how a Lidstrom-less D affects his numbers.
• Pavel Datsyuk: Datsyuk is now 3 seasons removed from 97 point but has still produced at or near a point per game in his last two.
  
• Henrik Zetterberg: ’11-12 had Hank’s lowest power play and overall output as a Red Wing.  However, still should be considered one of the top wing-eligible players.
• Johan Franzen: The streaky Mule will get you your power play goals.
  
• Niklas Kronwall: Kronwall has been groomed for the opportunity to be the Wings’ top minute eater.  Hopefully, the offensive output follows.

Deep stuff

Players you’ll take as a flier at the end of your draft or in deeper leagues.  Think 12-16 teams with multiple forward and util spots:

• Valtteri Filppula: Filppula finally put together a solid season but will likely go undrafted in standard leagues.
• Mikael Samuelsson: Difficult to see where he will fit in but if he’s regularly playing top-six minutes, 20 goals could be attainable again.
• Ian White: Benefited from being paired with Lidstrom on the power play but the offensive defenseman will still be counted on to contribute.
• Kyle Quincey: Past couple seasons are too rocky to trust him.  He will most certainly receive PP2 minutes.