DETROIT -- Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are too talented to produce only 70 points a piece and rank 26th in the NHL in scoring like they did last season for the Detroit Red Wings.

It didn’t help that many of the team’s supporting players -- Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall -- were injured or playing hurt much of the season.

Or that the club lost a significant chunk of offense the previous summer with the departures of Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler.

Nonetheless, Datsyuk and Zetterberg didn’t play nearly as well as they are capable.

The Red Wings need their superstars to return to their dominant form. It will be difficult to compete for the Stanley Cup if their best players aren’t among the league’s best.

“Both mine and Pav’s goal is to win the Stanley Cup, but to do that we have to produce on offense and defense,” Zetterberg said. “We get a lot of ice time -- power play and five-on-five -- so we should be up there in scoring. But if we end up top five or top 15, I don’t think that’s anything we care about.”

Datsyuk has won the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward the past three seasons, and Zetterberg also has maintained his strong defensive play.

The circumstances are set up for the pair to be even more productive.

THE ROSTER

Forwards

Justin Abdelkader:

Will be counted on for physical play, penalty-killing and an occasional fight.

Todd Bertuzzi:

The net front is not his favorite spot, but that’s where the team wants him to be.

Dan Cleary:

Versatile player who’s healthy again and can fill many roles (offense, defense, power play, penalty kill).

Pavel Datsyuk:

Three-time Selke Trophy winner as top defensive forward should post more than 70 points.

Kris Draper:

A team leader and longtime grinder who will be battling for playing time on the fourth line.

Patrick Eaves:

Good shot-blocker on the penalty-kill, he has an underrated wrist shot he must use more often.

Valtteri Filppula:

Reluctant shooter is expected to increase his production in the second-line center slot.

Johan Franzen:

A difference-maker capable of scoring 30-35 goals if he can stay healthy.

Darren Helm:

His speed, energy, physical play and penalty-killing make him a valuable role player.

Tomas Holmstrom:

Net-front extraordinairre enjoyed a big comeback season with 25 goals.

Jiri Hudler:

Back after a year in Russia and hoping to improve on career-high totals of 23 goals, 57 points.

Drew Miller:

Strong penalty-killer and grinder who showed flashes of offense with 10 goals.

Mike Modano:

Playing on more talented team could rejuvenate 40-year-old center who returns home.

Henrik Zetterberg:

He’s lighter and quicker and should be more productive than last two seasons.

Defensemen

Jonathan Ericsson:

Looking to rebound from poor season in which he made bad decisions and committed too many turnovers.

Jakub Kindl:

Club’s highest draft pick since 1991 (19th in 2005) finally on the team, but battling to get in lineup.

Niklas Kronwall:

Oft-injured player who makes a difference with his open-ice hitting and quick puck movement.

Nicklas Lidstrom:

At age 40, he continues to be one of the best in the game.

Brian Rafalski:

Veteran puck-mover being separated from usual partner Lidstrom to pair with Brad Stuart.

Ruslan Salei:

Veteran newcomer will add an abrasive element to the blue line.

Brad Stuart:

Hard hitter was one of team’s top players in first half and must adjust to playing on the left side.

Goaltenders

Jimmy Howard:

He had a tremendous rookie season and now must show he wasn’t a one-year wonder.

Chris Osgood:

He is determined to rebound from a bad season and win 20 games as the backup.

The team is healthier and deeper. Players are as fresh as they have been in some time due to a longer offseason. They are highly motivated after being bounced in the second round of the playoffs by San Jose.

Most importantly, Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be playing on the same line, a luxury coach Mike Babcock could not afford last season when the team was so banged up it had to split up the stars to ice two viable scoring lines.

Zetterberg, who admits he was mentally fatigued at times last season, lost eight-to-10 pounds over the summer and regained some of the quickness he sacrificed by adding more muscle in previous years.

“Last year, they were stars. This year, they have a chance to be superstars again,” Babcock said. “We believe playing them together will help their confidence and help each other.

“When you’re feeling real good about yourself and you play with someone else, you make them better.”

They are in the prime of their careers. Datsyuk is 32 and Zetterberg turns 30 on Saturday.

They are excited to be reunited, along with Holmstrom, the longtime net-front specialist and puck-retrieving wizard.

“I know how (Datsyuk) thinks out there, and he knows how I’m thinking,” Zetterberg said. “And Homer is doing his thing, creating space.”

The last time they spent significant time on the same line was 2007-08, when Datsyuk was fourth in the league with 97 points, Zetterberg posted career highs of 43 goals and 92 points, and the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup.

“It’s helped us before, I see no reason it not help us this time,” Datsyuk said. “I’m happy that we, for first time, actually played whole training camp together. It’s nice, but we need lots of work, nothing comes easy. Now, there’s going to be lots of attention on us.”

There also is more pressure on opponents when both are on the ice at the same time.

New Red Wings forward Mike Modano knows that, having spent the past several seasons in Dallas trying to defend them. He is delighted to be on the same side.

“They do things fast and up-tempo, a lot of give-and-go, and they both have the ability to hold onto (the puck) very long, move it well, pass well,” Modano said. “They do a lot of similar things. It causes some headaches. Playing against them, you didn’t know how to defend them. You had to pick one guy or two. It left everybody else available.

“They’re smart and they move well with the puck. That’s kind of a key. Some people lose a little bit of their speed when they get the puck. They do things with it — skating, getting shifty, losing checks, getting separation from guys.”

Circumstances change. Babcock will go through dozens of line combinations during the season. Perhaps Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be split up again.

Whatever the case, the Red Wings need more production from these elite players.

And they are poised to deliver.