Chris Ilitch deserves some criticism, but many of the arguments fans have made are misguided and amplified by jealousy.
We've seen comments attacking the Detroit Red Wings governor, president, and CEO, ranging from "spoiled rich kid" to accusing him of not being a sports fan. Did he inherit an empire? He sure did, but he's still a human being. Let's evaluate with facts.
Ilitch was the captain of his high school baseball team and won a state hockey championship with the same school in 1983. He also has his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for being a member of team management for Detroit's championship runs in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008. He also plays hockey regularly in an adult league in the Detroit metro area. If Ilitch isn't a sports fan, that would be news to us. But has he been a great owner since taking over?
The Question of Payroll
Spending more money isn't a guarantee of a Stanley Cup championship. Last year, the Colorado Avalanche had the highest payroll of any NHL team. They were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Dallas Stars, who had the 20th-highest payroll. In fact, no one from the top 10 even made it to the finals. The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Oilers, led by Conn Smythe Trophy winner Connor McDavid, were ranked 15th in the payroll category, right behind their arch-rivals. Furthermore, the Columbus Blue Jackets have the lowest payroll of any team in the NHL right now. Guess what? They're in the playoffs.
We can talk about the Red Wings missing the postseason for nine straight seasons all day, but the discussion isn't necessarily about spending more money. Instead, it's splurging in the right places. Detroit is 20th in payroll at $85.98 million. They're not too high, but they're not too low, either. However, of that money, 62% of their payroll is dedicated to forwards. Where has Detroit struggled mightily all season? Defense. The offense hasn't been great at times, but defense wins championships.
As we stated previously, Vladimir Tarasenko hasn't been upholding his end of the bargain. If they can find a club willing to eat the remaining $4.75 million this offseason, that would be great, and perhaps get a draft pick or two out of it. Justin Holl is another one. He has one more year remaining on his contract at $3.4 million. Now, you're sitting at around $10 million of additional cap space. The Red Wings may or may not move on from Patrick Kane, but there's the possibility of bringing him back on a one-year deal. Either way, Tyler Motte, Craig Smith, and Jeff Petry are unlikely to return to Detroit.
More Defense
Sam Bennett is set to be a top free agent this offseason, but the Panthers aren't going to give up without a fight. They'll try to ink him to a contract extension, but Detroit is in a good position to land him. They need a solid player, and Bennett is someone they desperately need.
Brock Boeser is another one. The rumor is that he doesn't want to leave Vancouver, but the Canucks may not have a choice. If Detroit can find a way to land both of these guys, that would be incredible. But the Red Wings are just one team. As aforementioned, the Blue Jackets are sitting pretty doing more with less than anyone else. What if they landed one of the top free-agent acquisitions? It's going to be interesting.
Understanding The Situation
What's very clear is that running a major league sports team isn't easy. There will be good times, challenging times, and downright brutal moments. Ilitch was also criticized for the way he's run the Detroit Tigers over the past couple of seasons. However, the Tigers are currently 1st in the American League Central. There's a long way to go in the season, but 18 games is not a bad sample size.
This rebuild hasn't been perfect, but Ilitch and Yzerman have been to incredible echelons together at different areas of the spectrum. Perhaps they can rekindle that magic again. But there's 31 other NHL teams and they're all fighting for the same thing.