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By David Vecsey, CNNSI.com

At season's end: Finished first in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference.

		"The changes we've made this summer have reinvigorated me. It's been disappointing for us in the playoffs and last year not even getting out of the first round. But EVERYONE'S GETTING KIND OF PUMPED UP about the season." -- Captain Steve Yzerman

Lost in all the feel-good hoopla of the Ray Bourque Memorial Stanley Cup victory by Colorado was the fact that the Avs' arch-rivals from Detroit actually had been the hottest team in the league over the last three months. But the Detroit Red Wings' 28-7-6-2 season-ending run, which included a franchise-record 19-game unbeaten streak at home, was undone by an injury-ravaged first-round exit in the playoffs.

With Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan out of the lineup, the Wings were ousted by L.A. in six games and kind of became the forgotten contenders.

Well, how's this for a reminder: The Red Wings went out this summer and obtained Luc Robitaille, Brett Hull and Dominik Hasek. Not a bad boost for an offense that ranked fifth last year and a defense that ranked eighth. And with nine potential Hall of Famers on the roster, it's just the kind of low-maintenance, veteran-laden team that Scotty Bowman needs if he's going to win that elusive ninth Stanley Cup.

If it doesn't happen this year, it will only get more elusive. The Red Wings have 14 players over age 30 and eight over 35.

For more on the Red Wings, please check back to our NHL Preview section on Wednesday, Oct. 3 for a Sports Illustrated Scouting Report.

		BRIGHT SPOTS		GRAY AREAS
Owner Mike Ilitch wants a winner now and GM Ken Holland bought him one. And this isn't one of those spending sprees that will kill a team's chemistry. As marquee as they are, Robitaille, Hull and Hasek will all gladly answer to captain Steve Yzerman, who might be the most respected captain in the league. And the existing core showed no ill will toward the newcomers, with Yzerman, Shanahan and Chris Chelios all agreeing to restructure their contracts in order to sign Hull. While Bowman has no intention of discarding his famous left-wing lock, the Red Wings should be one of the most exciting offensive teams in the league. Already stocked with playmakers, the Wings added two of the premier finishers in NHL history. There will be no shortage of highlight clips out of this crew.				Until they signed Hull, the Wings were a little short at right wing. Even with Hull, whatever offense Detroit gets out of Darren McCarty and Kirk Maltby is gravy. But it's important gravy. The Wings hope Maltby can rediscover the scoring touch that made him a big-time goal-scorer in juniors. Let's say the Wings don't win it all this year ... what's the future of this team? Not much. This is an old, old team with a coach who spends every offseason wondering whether he really wants to come back the next season. Plus, when you fail with the league's highest payroll, heads tend to roll. Luc Robitaille's resurgence over the past four seasons was largely credited to his return to his beloved L.A. So what now? If the sand and surf really is the tonic behind Robitaille's rebirth, how does he plan to make it happen in Detroit? Three of his four lowest-scoring seasons were the three he spent away from L.A.

Prospect Watch

With the glut of veterans in Detroit, Bowman doesn't have to worry about grooming too many youngsters into his disciplined game plans. One position that will need some attention is in the fourth right wing slot, where Jason Williams and Yuri Butsayev should be competing for a job. Butsayev is a converted center cut from the Darren McCarty mold -- a grinder with hands soft enough to contribute offensively. Williams is a skilled, two-way player.

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