Bill Clement

Count on the Red Wings making a 17th straight playoff appearance as this team is driven to win its first Stanley Cup since 2002. And come June they certainly could be living that dream.

Detroit, which broke from the gate by winning 12 of its first 15 games, has the right pieces in the right places. The Red Wings don't fear any opponent, and if the playoffs started today they could beat any team. On coach Mike Babcock's roster are the best all-around forward and best defenseman in the game plus a whole lot of other talent.

Meet Mr. Everything
This is the best Henrik Zetterberg has played in his five years in the NHL. The top all-purpose forward in the league is having a huge season. Zetterberg's a solid scorer, but he also does so many other things for Detroit. He's one of the team's best defensive forwards, excels on face offs, kills penalties, and if needed he can play the point on the power play. The Swedish star is one of the most impressive players of the last several decades in the NHL.

Zetterberg didn't come into the league hailed as anything near the special player he has become. He was drafted by Detroit in the 7th round (210th overall) in 1999. But he's come a long way. Very often players take on the persona of the roll they are cast in. Zetterberg's been cast in the role of Mr. Everything and so he's performing like Mr. Everything. The key is keeping him healthy. Back spasms were an issue with him in the second half of last season, and they caused him to miss the last 19 games leading up to the playoffs.

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Zetterberg isn't the only star up front. Center Pavel Datsyuk is one of the most creative players with the puck in the history of the NHL. He's so quick that even if the game was played in a phone booth, he'd be an All-Star every year. Datsyuk is coming off back-to-back 87-point seasons. He's a brilliant passer and stick handler.

After 30 goals last season (a team-high 13 of which came on the power play), Tomas Holmstrom should get 40 this season. He often gets to the front of the net and through the first month of the season he already had four goals called back for goalie interference. He's probably the top crease-disturber in the league and the Red Wings thrive when he's at his aggravating best.

Osgood, Lidstrom playing lights out
Dominik Hasek has been battling a sore hip so Chris Osgood has been called upon much more than expected in the early season and he's been nothing short of superb in goal. After a shootout win over Nashville on Nov. 7, Osgood improved to 8-0 with a sparkling 1.48 goals against average and .936 save percentage.

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Having this kind of goaltending depth is a huge plus for Detroit. And remember Osgood knows all about pressure situations having been on Stanley Cup winners with Detroit in 1997 and 1998. There's more concern for a 42-year-old Hasek staying healthy than there would have been for a 22-year-old Hasek. But with the kind of play Osgood is providing those concerns are lessened somewhat.

Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman in the NHL. Last season Detroit's captain came away with his second consecutive and fifth overall Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman. And in the playoffs Lidstrom gave opponents nightmares. He was magnificent leading the Red Wings in scoring.

Detroit probably has the least physical blue line in the Western Conference. Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Andreas Lilja, Chris Chelios, and Brett Lebda are the top six defensemen. When the playoffs start and the grind begins opposing forwards don't have to fear coming into Detroit's end because they are not subjected to a great physical toll. The Red Wings can't inflict that on opponents, but even still this is not an easy group to play against.

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