Detroit Red Wings: Which path should the team follow this off-season?
By Ben Heydt
The first path the Detroit Red Wings can take is “standing pat.”
Simply put, stay the course. Even though the Detroit Red Wings have not been able to nab a top pick in any of the drafts after being bottom-feeders in the league over the past eight years, they have still accumulated Top-10 picks and, for the most part, have had success in developing those prospects to be contributors on the main roster.
If General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman still believes he can build a championship team through his process of drafting, maximizing on pending free agents to acquire assets, and signing middle-tier free agents at a value, then he will do exactly that.
Ultimately, he wants to bring the coveted Stanley Cup back to the City of Detroit and join the parade celebration. If the path that gives them the best chance to hoist the cup over Woodward Avenue means that the playoff drought goes a few years longer, it may have to be the spoiled dinner that fans must stomach in order to get their dessert.
It’s not the path that most fans want to hear, but it needs to be talked about. The Red Wings could be considering a quieter summer, hoping that they can continue to rely on their in-house talent pool with the help of some mid-tier additions.