Kevin Dupont

Hey, where have these guys been? For those who lost track this season of the Red Wings, forgotten among the Western Conference also-rans, suddenly the Winged Wheels are anything but past tense.

In fact, the Wings could win the whole thing, which wouldn't be all that novel (four Cup wins dating back to '97), but it would remind us all once more the key of the regular season is: survive to thrive.

As recently as the mid-February Olympic break, the Wings remained in the ''We'll-get-it-together-maybe-one-of-these-days'' mode, still unable to inch their way into the playoff-qualifying top eight seeds. Then March and April became their months to roar, including a dazzling 16-2-2 run through the end of the season that had them leapfrogging all the way up to fifth in the standings. They clinched a postseason spot for the 19th straight season — extending their active record among major pro sports teams — and will face Phoenix in the first round.

Injuries to regulars Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Valtteri Filppula, Niklas Kronwall and Dan Cleary (still ongoing), made it impossible for coach Mike Babcock to get a consistent effort out of his club for the first five months of the season. Amid the MASH tactics, Babcock also made the long-anticipated transition to Jimmy Howard in net, moving the faithful-but-inconsistent Chris Osgood to a backup role while Howard (now age 26) assumes nearly the entire workload.

Howard, yet another product of the U.S. National Development Team, played at the University of Maine for three seasons before turning pro following the spring of 2005. He spent four years nearly exclusively in the minors before finally getting his break this season when the Wings opted not to re-sign Ty Conklin as Osgood's partner, establishing what looked to be an apprenticeship in Detroit for Howard.

The learning-on-the-job thing ended for Howard about a one-third of the way through the season as injuries throughout the lineup mounted and Osgood, who needed a late-season break in 2008-'09 to reclaim his game, reverted to pre-reclaim form. What the Wings have now is a bonafide is one of the game's hottest, most confident netminders and a bonafide Calder Trophy candidate for rookie of the year.

For those struggling to recall the last Red Wing to win the Calder, not to worry, it's been a while. Goaltender Roger Crozier won it in 1965, and a half-dozen other Wings finished as runner-up in subsequent seasons, including Bert Marshall ('66), Mike Foligno ('80), Steve Yzerman ('84), Sergei Fedorov ('91) Nicklas Lidstrom ('92) and Zetterberg ('03).

If the Wings win the Cup, Howard will carry the load in net, but the core success unit remains the likes of Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Franzen and Holmstrom, as well as Pavel Datsyuk and Brian Rafalski. A lengthy list, for sure, which is why the Wings are perennially so successful. GM Ken Holland, the front office boss since July 1997, has framed and preserved a deep lineup, perpetuating the club's success. Despite all their struggles with injury this season, the Wings finished with at least 100 points for the 10th straight time.

Where have the Wings been this season?

Remember, they are less than 24 months removed from their last Stanley Cup and they made it to Game 7 of the final last spring before getting edged by the Penguins. OK, their string of eight Central Division titles ended, but like overall regular-season standings, the only title that really counts is the one that gets skated around the rink at season's end.

All of that is weeks away, of course. First, the Wings will need to get by the Coyotes. The Red Wings won't be fun for any of them. The team that never really went away is showing up just in time and could make a lot of people miserable. Again.

Q: Think Mike Modano’s regretting not accepting a trade to the Capitals? Loyalty to the team is fine, but he squandered a great chance at winning another Cup in his swan song.
— Alex Romlin from Rochester, N.Y.
A: I fully understand your sentiment here, Alex, but ultimately it's for the player to ask himself how comfortable he'll be when pulling on another team's skin. Modano, remember, has had ample opportunity to leave before, and each time turned it down.

Out of the lockout, the Bruins tried desperately to bring him to Boston, only to see him agree to take slightly less money to remain with the Stars. One must wonder how different things would have been for both Big Mo and the Hub of Hockey if he had decided to swap the Star on his chest for a Spoked-B.

Let's not forget, Modano has his name on a Cup. That was 1999 — just ask the good folks of Buffalo for confirmation. I suspect, had he opted for a swap to Washington, the spring of 2010 would hold a warm place in his heart, even if the Caps were to fall short of a championship with him on the roster. But he'll be 40 years old in June, and has both won a Cup and earned a fortune since turning pro with Minnesota in Oct. '88. Three years past retirement he'll be voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Guaranteed.

Would another Cup in a different sweater change his legacy? Not really. In fact, I suspect he'll feel better about his career when he's able to look back and say he worked for one franchise (Minnesota-Dallas) for his entire career. These days, that's a rare mark of distinction.

Q: As much as I respect Jarome Iginla, is it time to trade him and rebuild? The Flames just haven’t been the same since he led then to the Cup finals.
— Andy from Winnipeg, Manitoba
A: I have to say, Andy, that very thought has crossed my mind the last couple of years. I have tremendous respect for Iginla, both as a person and player, but he will be 33 in July and now has played 1,000-plus games for Calgary without hoisting the Cup.

That said, he also has played in 54 postseason games and won't be adding to that rather modest pile (given his 13 seasons of service) this spring.

Keep in mind, however, Big Igg is under contract for three more seasons for a total of $21 million. He is not the kind of guy to ask out (aka ''Do a Heatley''), but I could envision him quietly letting the front office know that he would be open to suggestions about where to spend these next three years. It could be the classic case where an amicable divorce could be better for all concerned. If so, keep an eye on Toronto, especially with the Flames and Leafs already having done big business around the Dion Phaneuf swap to Budland.