The Detroit Red Wings have endured one of the most tumultuous seasons in recent NHL history. The captain of the team requested a trade. The team's long-time general manager stepped down. There are even reports about the owner nixing trades that have begun to circulate.
It goes without saying that next season will have no shortage of struggles.
In about a month and a half, the puck will drop in Little Caesar's Arena for the team's home opener. This will be the first 84 game season in decades -- and the first for the team's newest general manager.
These three harsh truths about next season are inevitable, but it's something that the fans and team will need to accept moving forward.
Dylan Larkin won't be traded right away
The longer time passes, the likelier it becomes that disgruntled captain Dylan Larkin will be on the roster at training camp. It's hard to imagine the new general manager will enter their new office and immediately call up, say, Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild to finalize a trade. Typically, when a new general manager enters the fold, they want to explore the ins and outs of their organization and figure out what they've got in store.
This, in turn, means Larkin's trade request may be put on the back burner for a little while.
The likelihood goes down even further when you account for Simon Edvinsson and his pending extension. Now, it goes without saying that the Red Wings (and Larkin, for that matter) want this business sorted out as soon as possible. If he's still on the roster by opening night, it's safe to assume a chorus of boos will rain down on him the moment the puck drops. In order to avoid such an awkward situation, the team will (hopefully) trade him before the start of the season, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see this drag out for the time being.
The prospects might not get a full opportunity
The hope is that a new general manager means more opportunities for younger players. In an ideal world, the Red Wings move on from costly, underperforming veterans and finally give the kids a chance. With that said, there's no actual guarantee the youth movement happens.
What happens if the Red Wings do call up prospects and they underperform? What if the team gets off to a hot start and has to rely on veterans to keep the good times rolling? Worse yet, there aren't a lot of opportunities for these young prospects to break through. Sure, there will be plenty of chances on the forward front once Larkin leaves and the rest of the wings shake out.
On the defense and goaltending front, however, things are a little more complex.
The Red Wings have a bit of a logjam at defense with Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson locking up the top pairing, Justin Faulk and Ben Chiarot in the middle and Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard-Docker bringing up the rear guard. Where can a young defender like, say, Axel Sandin-Pellikka push through? Bernard-Docker just earned himself a multi-year extension. Would the Red Wings prefer making him the extra skater in favor of a young prospect? What's going to happen with Faulk? How long can Ben Chiarot justify his position on the second pairing?
Goaltending is another mess entirely, with John Gibson and Daniil Tarasov occupying the starter and backup spots. There's no room for Michal Postava or Trey Augustine to break through, leaving the logjam in the exact same position it was a year prior.
The Red Wings are going to be bad next season
This might go without saying, but it's clear the Red Wings are among the least competitive teams in the Atlantic Division this season. Every single team added a key piece, from the Florida Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk to the Boston Bruins scoring JJ Peterka. The Red Wings, on the other hand, followed it up by signing Viktor Arvidsson to a two year deal.
That's not a knock on Arvidsson so much as it is the Red Wings' competitive desires. They just haven't made the kind of move one would hope, and, until they do, they're destined to deal with the doldrums of the most competitive division in the NHL. It's hard to imagine they'll finish next season with a better record than just about anyone in the division, unfortunately.
This doesn't have to be a bad thing, though: think of it as a temporary bottoming out. They can use this season to sell high on assets like Justin Faulk and John Gibson while fighting their way towards a draft lottery spot. If they manage to hit it big, they'll score Landon DuPont, the most exciting defensive prospect since Rasmus Dahlin.
The road to success can have its share of snags. This next season will be a setback, but, if things go according to plan, it's a temporary one.
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