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Players, coaching staff underachieved

After qualifying for the playoffs during the final week of the season in each of the last four years, the Detroit Red Wings ended the suspense early in 2016-17.

They were officially eliminated on March 28, but realistically out several weeks before, ending their 25-season streak.

The Red Wings had trouble scoring, their defense wasn’t good enough, their No. 1 goaltender struggled and the coaching staff did not get the most out of a mostly underachieving roster.

Here are the final grades (based on performance vs. expectation):

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Justin Abdelkader

His production declined (seven goals, 21 points, minus-20) from the previous two seasons (23 and 19 goals) for a couple of reasons: He missed 16 games with a mid-season knee injury from which he didn’t fully recover and he didn’t have Henrik Zetterberg as his center. His physical presence is important for a team that lacks size and isn’t hard to play against.

Grade: D

Contract: Six years remaining at a $4.25 million cap hit.

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Andreas Athanasiou

He maximized his minutes offensively, finishing second on the team with 18 goals in 64 games, and created scoring chances with his explosive speed. He has good hands and can finish. But he spent a lot of time in Jeff Blashill’s doghouse due to lapses in competitiveness without the puck.

Grade: B

Contract: Restricted free agent

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Luke Glendening

He led the team in hits (150), led forwards in blocked shots (62), led regulars in faceoff percentage (54 percent) and led forwards in penalty kill minutes (2:16 per game). But he didn’t seem to be as effective as in the past, and his production declined (three goals, 11 assists).

Grade: C+

Contract: Four years at a $1.8 million cap hit.

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Darren Helm

He got off to a hot start, on a line with Thomas Vanek and Gustav Nyquist, then missed two months with a dislocated shoulder and didn’t have the same impact when he returned. He might be exposed in the expansion draft, but his contract and concerns about durability could preclude him from being taken by Vegas.

Grade: C

Contract: Four years remaining at a $3.85 million cap hit.

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Dylan Larkin

It was a much more difficult second season for this 20-year-old who had trouble adjusting to center and wasn’t as productive without Henrik Zetterberg as a linemate. He had six fewer goals, 13 fewer points, took 43 fewer shots and went from plus-11 to minus-28. He must learn to play better without the puck to play in the middle. He committed too many turnovers and needs improvement in the faceoff circle (45.4 percent).

Grade: C-

Contract: One year remaining at a $925,000 cap hit. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Anthony Mantha

He had a strong rookie season, with 17 goals and 36 points in just 60 games, fitting in well with Henrik Zetterberg on the top line for a good chunk of the season. He was scratched for a couple of games late in season due to a lapse in compete level, but it’s part of the learning process. His size (6-5, 222), age (22) and scoring ability make him a franchise building block.

Grade: A-

Contract: One year remaining at an $863,333 cap hit. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Drew Miller

A long-time valued grinder, his role was diminished this season. He averaged a career-low 10:17 in ice time and played less on the penalty kill than in the past. He spent a few weeks in Grand Rapids after being waived but returned to be a regular down the stretch.

Grade: C

Contract: Unrestricted free agent.

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Frans Nielsen

The club overpaid to acquire him (six years at $31.5 million), but he filled a need at center and plays all situations. He had decent production (17 goals, 41 points) for a team that struggled offensively. His career-worst minus-19 rating doesn’t reflect his defensive performance.

Grade: B

Contract: Five years remaining at a $5.25 million cap hit.

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Tomas Nosek

He played 11 games in a late-season look (one goal) and left a favorable impression. The biggest takeaways were he improved his footspeed and utilized his size (6-3, 210) to drive to the net, didn’t shy away from contact. He is no longer waiver-exempt, so he will be counted on to make the roster next season as a fourth-line player.

Grade: Incomplete

Contract: One year remaining at a $612,500 cap hit. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Gustav Nyquist

He struggled the first half of the season (four goals, 14 points in 41 games) then got on a roll after returning from a six-game suspension for high-sticking, with five goals and 19 points in the final 19 games. But the team was out of the playoff chase by then. He has become a facilitator (career-high 36 assists) more than a finisher (12 goals, after scoring 28 in 2013-14). His no-trade clause takes effect next season, so he could be used as trade bait for a top-three defenseman.

Grade: C+

Contract: Two years remaining at a $4.75 million cap hit.

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Riley Sheahan

It’s hard to fathom how he went 79 games without a goal before scoring twice in the season finale. He got ample ice time (13:58 per game), played often on the power play (1:07 per game) and registered 109 shots. The team hopes it was an aberration, since he scored 36 goals in 202 games the previous three seasons. His minus-29 rating was fifth-worst in the league.

Grade: D-

Contract: One year remaining at a $2.075 million cap hit. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Tomas Tatar

He surged the last part of the season, with 13 goals and 20 points in the final 25 games, but it happened when the team was out of playoff contention. Consistency was an issue for the second year in a row, but he led the team with 25 goals. He was hampered by a shoulder injury, for which he was scheduled to have surgery this week. A restricted free agent who’ll likely seek close to $5 million a season, he’s also a trading chip for a top-pair defenseman. But that would be a big chunk of offense lost.

Grade: B

Contract: Restricted free agent

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Henrik Zetterberg

A tremendous season for the 36-year-old captain who was strong from start to finish, after fading late the past couple of years. He was far and away the best player on the club. His 68 points were 20 more than anyone else. Despite recent back and knee issues, he appeared in all 82 games and led forwards in average ice time (19:43) by more than two minutes per game. He continues to make linemates better players.

Grade: A

Contract: Four years remaining at a $6.083 cap hit.

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Danny DeKeyser

It was a puzzling regression for a player who was so steady his first four seasons – “The Human Eraser” as former coach Mike Babcock called him. He is better-suited as a second-pair defenseman. He was mistake-prone, committed too many turnovers and got caught out of position too often. He went from plus-11 two years ago, to a minus-22. He led the team with 170 blocked shots, 78 more than anyone else. He could use some more weight and strength.

Grade: D

Contract: Five years remaining at a $5 million cap hit.

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Jonathan Ericsson

He missed the final two months with a broken wrist. He had shown slight improvement, cutting down on turnovers, playing a little bit more physical. But it wasn’t a big enough leap for a team with issues on the blue line.

Grade: C

Contract: Three years remaining at a $4.25 million cap hit.

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Mike Green

He was strong offensively, doubling his goal total to 14, his most since 2009-10, and providing 36 points for a blue line that doesn’t generate much offense. He was not nearly as solid defensively, leading the club in giveaways and posting a career-worst minus-20 rating while averaging a team-leading 23:33, nearly four minutes more than the previous season.

Grade: B

Contract: One year remaining at a $6 million cap hit.

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Nick Jensen

Promoted on Dec. 19, with the expectation he’d be a temporary replacement, he seized the opportunity by earning a regular spot in the lineup, even playing on the top pairing with Danny DeKeyser towards the end. Jensen was rewarded with a two-year contract extension and is likely to be protected for the expansion draft. That’s quite a turnaround for a player waived at the start of the season. He’s a terrific skater who uses his speed as a defensive asset and can chip in offensively (four goals, 13 points in 49 games).

Grade: B+

Contract: Two years at a cap hit of $812,500.

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Niklas Kronwall

He persevered on a bad knee, appearing in 57 games, including 10 sets of back-to-back contests. His ice time was trimmed to 19:27 – his lowest since his rookie season of 2003-04 -- and he improved from minus-21 to minus-7, not having to play against top lines. Due to age and injuries, he’s not the offensive player or big hitter he was. He continued being a regular on the power play when other options could have been explored. He is committed to returning next season.

Grade: C

Contract: Two years remaining at a cap hit of $4.75 million.

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Xavier Ouellet

A healthy scratch in 15 of the first 21 games, he became a fixture in the lineup just after Thanksgiving and was steady in his first full season. He moves the puck well, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and brings an abrasive element to a blue line that lacks physicality.

Grade: B

Contract: Restricted free agent.

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Robbie Russo

He appeared in the final 19 games and was steady. He had no points but didn’t seem to make glaring mistakes for a rookie and finished plus-2. He is exempt from the expansion draft and is waiver-exempt for another season, so he’s likely to start 2017-18 in Grand Rapids.

Grade: C+

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Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Ryan Sproul

A frequent scratch for what coach Jeff Blashill called a “lack of assertiveness,” it was difficult for Sproul to gain traction knowing his next mistake could get him yanked from the lineup. His size (6-4, 211) and big right-handed shot are assets, but he has much work to do defensively. He was a minus-8 in just 27 games.

Grade: D+

Contract: One year remaining at $625,000. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Jimmy Howard

A strong bounce-back season (2.10 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) might have been even better had he not missed 2½ months with a knee injury and had the team supported him better offensively (10-11-1 record). He was better than Petr Mrazek, but he’s also eight years older, so the club could look to move him again this off-season and he likely will be exposed in the expansion draft. But the few teams seeking a starting goalie might look to a younger, cheaper option.

Grade: A-

Contract: Two years remaining at a cap hit of $5.3 million.

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Petr Mrazek

His career has taken a wrong turn since mid-February of last season. He was too inconsistent this season, showing occasional flashes of his solid former self but unable to string together several strong starts. His goals-against average (3.04) and save percentage (.901) ranked 32nd in the NHL for goalies with at least 40 appearances. This hurts his trade value, should the club decide to go that route. But he's still young (25), so there is hope.

Grade: D

Contract: One year remaining at a $4 million cap hit. Restricted free agent in 2018.

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Coach Jeff Blashill and staff

Blashill had an impressive resume before becoming the Red Wings’ head coach but has had two disappointing seasons. The team was out of playoff contention far too soon this season. Too many players failed to perform to expectations. The club ranked near the bottom of the league in goals for, goals against and the power play. Younger players had a far shorter leash than some underperforming veterans. Blashill will return next season, likely with assistants John Torchetti, Doug Houda and Pat Ferschweiler. They must do a better job of maximizing players’ abilities, putting them in positions to succeed.

Grade: D

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