Byline: Buzz Gray Staff writer
If a big, experienced defense wins hockey games, then the Adirondack Red Wings should be in for a very good season.
But if the Wings are in need of a high-power offense to win the American Hockey League's Southern Division, then their future is uncertain.
"Can we put the puck into the net?, that's the question," said Bill Dineen, entering his fifth season as coach of the nine-year-old franchise.
"We have talented goaltending and our defense is deep. But right now, we simply don't know about our offense."
Dale Krentz is the only forward remaining who started the season here last year. To fill in the holes around him, general manager Neal Smith and Dineen have signed veteran free agents to go along with promising rookies coming out of junior programs.
"I think we have perhaps our most talented team ever assembled here," said Smith, beginning his third season as GM.
One thing's for certain, it's the deepest team Dineen has ever had here. Even if the league had not cut game rosters from 20 players to 18, Adirondack would have had more than enough talented players. That's a luxury Dineen has never experienced in his previous four seasons.
There are currently 22 players on the team with a couple more likely to be assigned from the parent NHL club in Detroit.
Inevitable injuries will not have nearly the crippling effect they did a year ago when the Wings wore out after a …
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