NHL teams on the rise after missing playoffs: Penguins, Predators, Senators, Sabres and Red Wings

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings' playoff drought has lingered so long that they've tied a team record, seemingly stuck in a rebuilding mode that has allowed apathy to set in with at least some fans.

Steve Yzerman is trying to spark a change.

The Hockey Hall of Famer and Red Wings general manager finally felt that making major trades and spending significant money in free agency made sense for the franchise after seeing a couple of years of some progress.

Detroit desperately hopes to snap its seven-year playoff drought, which equals an awful run in the 1970s, and becomes part of an NHL trend.