I would be ASTONISHED if Detroit misses the playoffs, in spite of losing the second greatest d-man of all time. They still have Pavel Datsyuk, the most skilled player in the world...and perhaps even more importantly they have Ken Holland, the second greatest general manager of all time.
Kenny Holland is SO good that he could probably even get the woeful LEAFS into the playoffs if - Heaven forbid! - he ever replaced the tragically incompetent Brian "Never Met a Meal He Didn't Like" Burke. Of course, to do so, Kenny would have to replace the ENTIRE Leaf team starting with its captain, the reigning two-time most overrated player in the NHL as voted by the players themselves.
Thank Heaven that the NIGHTMARE of Kenny leaving Hockeytown and going to Hogtown will never come to pass!