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Detroit Lions are the Motor City’s best hope for a championship

By J.D. Laker

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: The Detroit Lions offense huddles up around Matthew Stafford #9 in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 1: The Detroit Lions offense huddles up around Matthew Stafford #9 in the second half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 1, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 26: Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings controls the puck in front of Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period at Joe Louis Arena on March 26, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 26: Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings controls the puck in front of Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period at Joe Louis Arena on March 26, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have long been the most consistent Detroit sports franchise, but the Wings sold their soul to keep a record 25-year playoff streak intact.

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The team hasn’t been a real threat to win a Stanley Cup for a few years now, but they delayed their rebuild in order to keep the playoff streak going, putting the them in an awkward position.

They Wings have virtually no cap space and are currently in a bidding war with the KHL for the services of one of their most exciting young players. A lot of money is tied up in players who have yet to live up to their contracts (and may never do so) and aging veterans.

They’ve always had strong scouting department, but nowadays it’s harder to keep foreign prospects under the radar as they did in the past.

The team has failed to embrace a true youth movement and has recently missed on a number of targeted free agents. Oh and they have one of the worst defenses in the NHL.

A sexy new arena will keep the fans at bay for now, but they are a long way from contention. Most analysts are predicting them to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic division.

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