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Detroit Red Wings: Smith can replace Abdelkader but it’s Complicated

By Bob Heyrman

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 25: Brandon Manning #23 of the Chicago Blackhawks s pressured by Givani Smith #48 of the Detroit Red Wings during a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 25: Brandon Manning #23 of the Chicago Blackhawks s pressured by Givani Smith #48 of the Detroit Red Wings during a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Red Wings need to start to consider trimming the fat and embrace the rebuild.  To complete a successful rebuild, they need to fully commit to young up and coming players who they’ve drafted in recent years.

Players like Justin Abdelkader and Luke Glendening are starting to wear on the nerves of Detroit Red Wings fans.  Abby is averaging just shy of 15 minutes of ice a night while only recording 1 goal (empty netter) and 1 assist on the season.

He has yet to be impactful in any role.  He is being passed over on the power play for other more gifted scoring potential players.  I say scoring potential because the goals have yet to come easy this season.  The offense in Detroit continues to struggle mightily, similar to last season.

Is that on Jeff Blashill or Dan Bylsma? Maybe, but it could be lack of talented scorers too.   Bylsma was brought in to Motown to help advance the power play and the offense as a whole.  The forwards have often found their feet stuck in the mud.  They are trying to make way to many passes instead of driving more pucks towards the net.

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It would be nice to find a trade partner for Justin Abdelkader, but it is becoming virtually impossible.  His ineffective start to the season, grouped with a lucrative Ken Holland type contract makes life tough on the Detroit Red Wings organization.

Abby is owed 4.25 million per season for five more seasons.  Sigh.  It gets worse, he was granted a full no-trade clause from our beloved Ken Holland for this season and next.  The final three years of the deal it is downgraded to a “modified no trade” clause.  Abby produced just enough on a contract year to allow him to get this deal and has been virtually invisible since.

He must have walked past Ken Holland’s office at just the right time while Kenny was handing out NTC’s for Christmas.  Givani Smith is a young power forward the Detroit Red Wings drafted 46th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft.

Smith is not an offensive gifted forward, but the 6’2, 200 pounder loves to bang the body and get in hard on the forecheck.  He is a perfect fourth line energy guy.  He has played in 8 contests this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins and has yet to record a point.

Being drafted in the second round, the Wings expect the offense to develop, but he was never a stand out offensive player in junior.  He plays like a power forward, agitating forward.  The point is if we have Abby playing 15 minutes a night and not producing, why not have a 20-year-old who only makes a fraction of the salary come up and stir the pot?  The Wings have much better scoring prospects like Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren, but Smith fills a fourth line role, much cheaper than what we currently have for the future.

Would Ken Holland ever consider placing his associate captain on waivers next summer?  I bet a guy named Steve Yzerman would have no issues cleaning out the closet, just a thought.

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Granted Givani Smith may not be ready yet, but hopefully, we see him take the necessary strides forward over this season with the Griffins to get an opportunity next season to maybe replace a guy like Abby in the lineup.

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