After the most tumultuous offseason in recent history, the Detroit Red Wings need all they can get to boost morale.
Fortunately, a small, albeit symbolic gesture is returning to Detroit: the Hockeytown logo.
The Red Wings removed the logo close to a decade ago. Since then, things have felt a little off. The team has yet to make the playoffs. The captain wants out. Even general manager Steve Yzerman has stepped down from his post.
There's got to be something the Red Wings can do to bring the spark back.
While bringing back the Hockeytown logo won't suddenly turn the team into legitimate contenders, it can remind the team of the storied roots of the franchise -- and the potential they should aspire to.
How the Red Wings can rally with Hockeytown
It's entirely possible that the Red Wings aren't very good this season. That said, it doesn't mean the team can't build up a winning culture along the way.
Fortunately, it appears that some of the newcomers are already of this mindset. Keegan Kolesar, who the Red Wings acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights, wants to make it his goal to help the team establish its identity.
"They have a tremendous amount of skill and talent in their lineup," Kolesar said in an interview with Detroit media. "They're going in the right direction and have a lot of studs that I've felt have been good for years and are tough to play against. I just want to bring more of an identity to the team...toughness, being hard to play against, and a veteran presence on the front end, bringing guys into the fight."
Red Wings can benefit from addition by subtraction
As strange as it may be to say, perhaps losing Dylan Larkin will be the best thing that can happen for this team. It's hard to imagine Larkin didn't spend a long period of time thinking about this trade request. His discontent almost certainly spilled into the locker room, thus affecting the overall morale and performance of the team.
If the team's leader wants out, what sort of confidence does that instill in his teammates?
There's a strong chance that, despite Larkin's obvious talent, moving on from him will work wonders for the locker room. It will allow the team to do a hard reset and figure out their priorities. It gives both rookies and veterans alike a chance to reestablish what sets the Red Wings apart from the average club.
Most of all, it eliminates the looming spectre of pressure that appeared to be mounting over the last few years.
No Larkin and no Yzerman means that expectations will completely change. For better or worse, the team needs to determine its next direction as an organization.
Perhaps that all starts with the return of Hockeytown to center ice.
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