The Detroit Red Wings sit two points out of the last place, dead last place to be exact. The losses seem to be frustrating the players. This is the most challenging part of the “trust the process” part of the rebuild.
Although the Wings played a solid game last night en route to a victory, 23 losses at this point in the season is nothing to write home about. Last night’s victory shouldn’t pull the shades on what’s transpired leading up to the game. The Detroit Red Wings have battled and competed. They have been in almost every game since New Year’s Eve. But 4 victories in the past 16 games have players on edge, rightly so.
There is no fun to be found in Motown. The fans are not happy. The players are not happy. The coaches are not happy. All of this is the perfect storm of players who perhaps have started the process of abandoning their head coach.
Dylan Larkin who is the centerpiece of the Detroit rebuild has become more vocal. It is clear he will be the next Red Wings captain if he is not inside the locker room already.
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Larkin said, “It’s getting frustrating, it has been frustrating.” Dylan has seen his Red Wings teammates outplay teams and jump out to early leads only to watch it all be for not.
It is not hard to think of Steve Yzerman who was in a similar situation in Detroit. Like Yzerman, Larkin will see better days. But right now it seems like there is no way out.
Blashill has stressed making opponents work hard for goals. That is good, and all but you have to have the horses to run the race. While it is understood general manager Ken Holland had an outstanding draft in last June’s NHL draft, the defensive prospects need to develop.
Looking ahead to this Summer’s draft, the prize player is center, Jack Hughes. While the Red Wings need defense, adding Hughes would be a no-brainer. Detroit can use freed up salary cap money to address the defense issues on signing day July 1st.
For now, it is not fun. It has been interesting to see the Wings start games strong and fight. So they have not completely thrown in the towel. They are simply not good enough to finish the way they start. That will come.