from Helene St. James, Jeff Seidel and Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press,

Our Free Press sports writers share their thoughts on how the Detroit Red Wings' season will shake out:

Helene St. James
Best-case scenario: Wings play competitive hockey, avoid being derailed by injuries/illness, and take a step forward in the rebuild.

Worst-case scenario: They get off to a bad start and then see what depth they’ve built up depleted by injuries or illness.

Breakout player: Filip Zadina. He’s grown stronger and more mature, and should be good for around 14-15 goals in a 56-game season.

Goals leader: Anthony Mantha. If he stays healthy, he’s a dominant force who even in a shortened season could hit somewhere in the 20-goal range.

Will they make the playoffs: It would be stunning if they did. This season will be judged on whether the young players improve, and how competitive the team plays overall.

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