Red Wings coach: This year's team is Detroit's best since consecutive Cup Finals

The Detroit Red Wings are off to a flying start and head coach Mike Babcock believes the current group is the best since the franchise's latest glory days.

"This is the best team we've had here since, probably, '09. And not necessarily pointwise, but directionwise," Babcock told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. 

The Red Wings, of course, advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row in 2009, losing in seven games to the Pittsburgh Penguins after defeating them in six the year before.

Babcock chalks the team's current success up to organizational depth.

"We have more players hungry going in the right direction than we've had in a long time," he said. "That's what good teams have – they have internal competition, and you see people coming back and you say, 'I better play well.' That's way better than any coach talking to you. The best guys get to play. It's simple."

Heading into Wednesday's tilt with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Red Wings sit in a tie for first in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning and their 39 points put them two back of the league-leading Anaheim Ducks. 

A dozen players have recorded double-digit point totals, with goalie Jimmy Howard's .917 save percentage holding it all together.

"Howie is a guy who can really give us confidence," Babcock said. "The better he plays, the more swagger the team has."

Detroit's re-emergence after a down 2013-14 may be a boon for the Red Wings in multiple ways, as Babcock may be further enticed to remain with the club with his contract set to expire at season's end.