Detroit Red Wings: Which path should the team follow this off-season?
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.
The second path is for the Detroit Red Wings to make big moves.
Make a big-time move. This seems like the most likely and the best option, in my opinion. Yzerman has acquired a plethora of draft capital over the past few seasons and currently holds two first-round picks as well as three high second-round picks in this year’s draft.
Next offseason, they hold another two first-round picks. Realistically, drafting five players in the top 43 picks should not be the preferred route going into the draft. Yzerman has been on record stating that he prefers to acquire players and known talent over unknown assets.
So it would seem that the only reason he has stockpiled draft picks is to use them to move up in the draft and take a huge piece like Matvei Michkov, or more likely, add the top-end goal scorer that they desperately need.
Kyle Connor and Alex DeBrincat have been the most popular names floating around, mainly because they seem likely to be on the market as well as both being Michigan natives. Whether that is true or not, it still requires two things; the interest from Detroit, which seems likely, and the willingness of Winnipeg or Ottawa to part with them for the right price.
The price from Ottawa will likely be too high due to the fact they will add a division rival tax to the price tag. Regardless, it is time to start the push to the playoffs and no longer be a member of the draft lottery club.
Even with the expected roster additions of Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, and Carter Mazur, there is still a gaping hole in the scoring department. Without adding that missing piece, Detroit will be pulled into the murky middle of the league with no true sight out.
Not good enough to make the playoffs and not bad enough to acquire a top draft pick. Lather, rinse, and repeat. The current roster has shown when healthy; they can compete with the wild card teams and contend for a wild card spot. The only thing holding them back is that missing piece to put them into the dance.
3 players the Detroit Red Wings should consider with the No. 9 overall pick. dark. Next
Detroit will likely need to move a first, a second, and an additional piece of value, whether that is a prospect or another future pick to find a partner to trade with in order to gain a 30-40 goal scorer.
On July 7th, we will see what kind of moves Steve Yzerman is bold enough to make.