| Pos | Role | Name |
| C | 1 | Pavel Datsyuk  ActivePavel Datsyuk threaded a goal just under the crossbar at 6:46 of the third period in Monday's 3-1 Game 3 win. Datsyuk's goal came just over 2 minutes after the Blackhawks had cut Detroit's lead to 2-1 and not long after the referees negated Chicago's game-tying goal with an interference call. The goal itself was vintage Datsyuk and eerily similar to one he scored against Anaheim in the first round, with Datsyuk streaking into the zone and roofing the puck shortside just over Corey Crawford's shoulder. Datsyuk shot the puck so perfectly it rang in and out of the net fast enough for the TV announcers to think he hit the crossbar. May 20 |
| 2 | Valtteri Filppula ActiveDetroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says Valtteri Filppula needs to be a "huge factor" against the Chicago Blackhawks. Filppula, who is slated for free agency this summer, had one goal and four points in seven first-round games but also had some bad giveaways, particularly on a Game 6 goal by Emerson Etem. Due to the Hawks' great depth, the Red Wings need Filppula to be one of their best players without having to play alongside Henrik Zetterberg. May 14 |
| 3 | Joakim Andersson ActiveMike Babcock is a lot happier these days as he has three good offensive lines. The third line of Joakim Andersson, Damien Brunner and Gustav Nyquist has been outstanding for the Detroit coach as he put the trio together late in the regular season when the Red Wings promoted Nyquist and Andersson from the minors and dropped Brunner from the top line. "The Andersson line has been a key for us because we got worked in the three line the first two or three months (of the regular season)," Babcock said. "We couldn't handle it." May 20 |
| 4 | Cory Emmerton ActiveCory Emmerton will draw back into Detroit's lineup Wednesday night when they open the second round of the playoffs against Chicago. He suited up in the Red Wings' first six games in Round 1 versus Anaheim, but was a healthy scratch in Game 7. He will replace injured forward Mikael Samuelsson in the lineup and will center the fourth line his return. May 15 |
| 5 | Darren Helm  I.L.Darren Helm hasn't skated in two and a half weeks, but he's hoping that staying off the ice will help his ailing back finally get better. "I feel pretty good and feel that I can go out onto the ice and get going," Helm said Wednesday. "But, we've proven three or four times already that that doesn't work. Just (taking) a different approach and hopefully this one works." He won't be back during Detroit's second-round series, but if the team advances further into the playoffs then he is hoping to be available. He isn't expected to need surgery despite all the setbacks he has suffered. May 22 |
| LW | 1 | Henrik Zetterberg ActiveStill without a goal in the postseason, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said he has been able to create scoring chances despite the strong defensive effort against him by Detroit Red Wings veteran Henrik Zetterberg. "I’m not as worried about him as maybe you guys think I should be," Toews told the media. "He’s a good player. I’m obviously trying to limit his scoring chances when he gets the puck, but I’m still getting chances. He’s doing a great job of playing smart, defensive hockey, but it doesn’t mean I’m not getting chances and not getting to the net. Those chances are coming, and at some point they have to go in." May 25 |
| 2 | Daniel Cleary ActiveDaniel Cleary had one assist on Saturday. Cleary is having a good offensive playoff with two goals and four assists in nine games. Kudos if you picked him late in your playoff pool. May 19 |
| 3 | Gustav Nyquist ActiveGustav Nyquist's first career playoff goal was the overtime winner in the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks to even their series at one apiece. Nyquist converted a pretty feed by Valtteri Filppula in overtime to give the Wings the 5-4 win and evening the series at one apiece. Johan Franzen continued to be a playoff scoring machine, scoring a pair of goals and giving him 73 points in 88 playoff games. The Red Wings took a different approach this season, letting the holes in their lineup be filled by their youngsters and they delivered in game two. Aside from Nyquist's goal, the Red Wings also got a goal and two assists from rookie Damien Brunner, and Justin Abdelkader also scored. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk can't be the only source of offense, so it's good to see the kids contributing. May 3 |
| 4 | Drew Miller ActiveThe Red Wings have killed off nine straight Blackhawks' power plays heading into tonight’s Game 5 at the United Center and helping to give Detroit a 3-1 series lead over the No. 1 seeded Chicago team. The Blackhawks haven’t converted on a man advantage since winning the opening game of the second-round series. "I think we’ve been able to do some good things, disrupt them up ice and make it hard for them," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "We know that they’re so talented, all they need is once chance and the puck’s in. We’ve been able to do a good job there, I think." The hot streak on penalty kills coincided with the return of left winger Drew Miller (broken thumb). He entered the series for Game 2, giving the Wings three options on the fourth line to use as penalty killers, in Miller, Patrick Eaves and Cory Emmerton. As Kronwall put it, "Millsie getting back in the lineup’s been huge for us." May 25 |
| 5 | Todd Bertuzzi ActiveTodd Bertuzzi is a healthy scratch on Saturday. Drew Miller (hand) is ready to return and that's why Bertuzzi was pushed out of the lineup. Bertuzzi has no points and a minus-two rating in six playoff games. May 18 |
| 6 | Jordin Tootoo ActiveJordin Tootoo netted the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Los Angeles. Tootoo has three goals and seven points in 40 games this season. "Any time you can contribute, and as a fourth-line players, it's always exciting," said Tootoo. "You don't get that very often, so you make the best of it." Thanks in part to Tootoo's efforts, the Red Wings have moved up to the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They will try to protect that position on Thursday against Nashville. Apr 25 |
| RW | 1 | Justin Abdelkader ActiveJustin Abdelkader has grown into a top-six forward. Abdelkader's physical play in the main reason he's moved up in the depth charts, but he also has some offensive upside. He had two goals and three points in five games in the first round. If he can continue to get top-six minutes next season, he'll be a candidate for a breakout season. May 15 |
| 2 | Johan Franzen ActiveJohan Franzen scored his fourth goal of the playoffs Saturday. Franzen broke out of scoring slump with his third period goal as he had gone the previous six games without a goal and the last three games without a point. The Red Wings are looking for the talented Franzen to be a difference maker in their series against the Blackhawks and Saturday's game could be the starting point. May 19 |
| 3 | Damien Brunner ActiveDamien Brunner is excelling on the third line with fellow rookies Joakim Andersson and Gustav Nyquist. Brunner has four goals and seven points in nine playoff games to lead all first year players. Brunner is not actually considered a rookie because of his age but it is his first season in the NHL after a very good career in Europe. He played a lot of the regular season with Henrik Zetterberg but his play in the playoffs has been excellent as a third line player. "I really don't think (Brunner) has a clue what's going on," Jimmy Howard said with a chuckle. "I don't think he understands the realm of things and what can possibly happen as the playoffs unfold. He's in a good mood every single game. We got a lot of guys with a lot of energy, and you can just see the excitement on their faces." May 20 |
| 4 | Patrick Eaves ActivePatrick Eaves may be inserted in the Detroit lineup for Game 7. Eaves will likely replace one of Mikael Samuelsson or Todd Bertuzzi on the fourth line. Just an FYI in case you are in a very deep playoff pool. May 12 |
| 5 | Mikael Samuelsson  SidelinedMikael Samuelsson is still day-to-day with a sore pectoral muscle. Samuelsson originally sustained the injury on March 31 and returned to play in the first round against the Ducks, playing in the final five games of the series. He had a goal and an assist against Anaheim but has yet to play in round 2. Consider him questionable for Monday's contest. May 20 |
| D | 1 | Niklas Kronwall ActiveNiklas Kronwall picked up his second point of the playoffs Saturday. After a 29 point performance in 48 regular season games, Kronwall has struggled in the playoffs offensively as he has only two assists in nine games. He assisted on Johan Franzen's third period goal, along with Jonathan Ericsson. Kronwall needs to pick it up offensively for the Red Wings if Detroit has any hope in moving on to the Western Conference final. May 19 |
| 2 | Jonathan Ericsson ActiveJonathan Ericsson stressed the value of getting under the Blackhawks' skin. "If we can get them frustrated, that's almost 1-0 for us right away," Ericsson said. "So that's what we want to do." The Blackhawks are denying that the Red Wings have succeeded in frustrating them, but they have suffered back-to-back rough losses against Detroit. They'll enter Game 4 on Thursday with the goal of evening this series, but if the Red Wings get off to a strong sstart, it could be a big blow to Chicago's confidence. May 22 |
| 3 | Brendan Smith ActiveBrendan Smith had a great bounce back game Saturday after struggling in Game 1 Wednesday. Smith's second goal of the playoffs was the game winner and his overall play was crucial in the Red Wings win. "I thought Smitty was fantastic today," coach Mike Babcock said. "But he sure does seem to be in the middle of things, doesn't he?" The rookie defenseman is worth looking at in deeper pools next season as a sixth defenseman. May 19 |
| 4 | Dan DeKeyser SidelinedDan DeKeyser said he expected to have his hard cast removed from his broken thumb after practice Wednesday and he hopes to return at some point if the Red Wings can advance deep into the postseason. "As long as they keep winning here, that just gives me a better chance for a return with every win," DeKeyser said. "I'm just hoping that the guys in here can keep winning and keep improving along the way. Hopefully, I'll get a chance in a playoff game again." He might be available to return around mid-June if his six-week recovery projection holds true. May 22 |
| 5 | Kyle Quincey ActiveKyle Quincey was a healthy scratch Sunday. He was replaced by Brendan Smith in the lineup. "I don't have much to say on it," Quincey said. "Three guys are waiting and all ready to play and they're all good defensemen, so it's the nature of the beast." He has not had any fantasy value this season. Apr 15 |
| 6 | Jakub Kindl ActiveJakub Kindl scored his first goal of the postseason Thursday as Detroit upended the Blackhawks by a score of 2-0 to take a 3-1 lead in their second round playoff series. Kindl's goal midway through the second period was assisted by Carlo Colaiacovo and Johan Franzen and held up as the only tally of the contest until Dan Cleary's empty-net marker in the game's final minute iced the victory for Detroit. May 23 |
| 7 | Ian White ActiveThe play of defensemen Brendan Smith and Dan DeKeyser have made Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo superfluous in Detroit. The Red Wings are excited about their young defensemen and Ian White has now been a healthy scratch the last six games. He has only played in 25 games with two goals and a couple of helpers and it appears that his time with the Red Wings is now short. Apr 23 |
| 8 | Carlo Colaiacovo ActiveCarlo Colaiacovo played his first game for the Red Wings since April 14th as he suited up for Game Six of their opening round playoff series against the Ducks Friday. The veteran blueliner only played in six regular season contests due to a shoulder ailment, but his puck-moving skills were a welcome addition for the Wings in his first game back "I thought Colaiacovo had a couple of shifts, like everyone else, he wishes he didn’t have, but I thought he played well,'' coach Mike Babcock said. There's little doubt Colaiacovo will be in the lineup in place of Brian Lashoff for Game Seven of the series Sunday night. May 11 |
| G | 1 | Jimmy Howard ActiveJimmy Howard is not a future Hall of Famer -- not yet, anyway -- but the Detroit Red Wings' 29-year-old netminder has been solid all season and in the playoffs, and his efforts haven't gone unnoticed by his teammates. Howard has allowed only two goal in his past three games against the Chicago Blackhawks, who were favored to win this second-round playoff series but are down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and would be eliminated with a loss to Howard and mates tonight. There's talk that Howard is a strong candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the outstanding performer in the NHL's post-season. "I don't know if you can ask much more from Howie than what he's done for us since he's got here," veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall said of Howard, who has stopped 86 of 88 shots the last three games. "If you're not appreciating what he's doing right now, I don't know if you're a true fan, to be honest with you. That's how good he's been. He's been the backbone of our team." May 25 |
| 2 | Jonas Gustavsson ActiveOne of the major reasons the Red Wings have struggled this season is the lack of production they have received from their offseason free agent acquisitions. The group of incoming free agents was made up of Jonas Gustavsson, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jordin Tootoo, Mikael Samuelsson and Damien Brunner and the Swiss winger is the only member of that group to offer anything in the way of production although he has also struggled of late. Some of the difficulties have been related to injury, however there's no denying the fact these acquisitions haven't lived up to expectations. Apr 20 |
| 3 | Jared Coreau |