Excitement around the Detroit Red Wings is the lowest it's been in a while.
To be fair, it's hard to be excited given the litany of things that have gone wrong this offseason. Worst of all, the rest of the division spent the offseason upgrading while the Red Wings picked up the pieces.
If the Red Wings are serious about contending and have no interest in missing the playoffs again, they need to get creative. They've got to take a gamble and do something risky enough that it just might pay off.
The Red Wings need to tender an offer sheet to Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fantilli's situation right now
Fantilli is one of three yet unsigned restricted free agents. The other two are Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes and, of course, Simon Edvinsson. With that said, Fantilli differs from Edvinsson in that he hasn't participated in a day of training camp, nor yesterday's preseason bout. It's unclear where the team is at with negotiations. When last Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell left off, Fantilli was seeking a number similar to the hefty contract Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks signed.
This isn't a surprise, given Fantilli's talent (and potential). Last season, the top line center had a bit of a breakout campaign, knocking in 59 points in 82 games. At 21 years of age, the former University of Michigan product has a long, bountiful career ahead of him.
If things can't get worked out in Columbus, perhaps interim general manager Shawn Horcoff should do something about it.
Questions have arisen regarding Horcoff's autonomy, especially in light of recent stories regarding former GM Steve Yzerman's experience. If Horcoff wants to show off his autonomy (and Chris Ilitch wants to prove that he has autonomy), he needs to have the freedom to make these risky gambles.
Sure, there's a chance Fantilli doesn't sign the deal. There's also a chance the Red Wings don't even bother to take the risk. But, if Detroit is serious about replacing Dylan Larkin at center (or even trying to convince him to stay), this is their best option moving forward.
Under the NHL's CBA, an seven-year, $20M/year offer sheet would land the Red Wings in the highest threshold, forcing the team to surrender four first round picks. The biggest question the Red Wings need to ask isn't whether or not those picks matter: it's whether they could manifest those picks into a top-line center in any other situation.
What Adam Fantilli can do for the Red Wings
This is what a lineup with Adam Fantilli in it would look like:
Alex DeBrincat-Adam Fantilli-Lucas Raymond
Emmitt Finnie-Dylan Larkin-Viktor Arvidsson
Marco Kasper-Andrew Copp-Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
Carter Mazur-Nate Danielson-Keegan Kolesar
Is the lineup perfect? No, not yet. But it's a massive upgrade for the team, especially on the top-six. Moving Larkin down to the second line takes the pressure off the ex-captain and creates a lethal one-two punch. Andrew Copp can thrive on the third line with a more defensive-minded role. It also creates some addition by subtraction, taking Michael Rasmussen, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton out of the picture.
This starting offensive lineup, combined with the team's solid defensive core, makes the Red Wings a playoff team - or, at least, as close to a playoff team as it's been in quite some time.
Sure, the team will need to look at upgrading the second line wings, but that can come from prospects like Brandsegg-Nygard panning out or by trading other prospects to give the lineup a shot of adrenaline.
If the Red Wings want to be a serious organization, they need to take some serious risks. Sending an offer sheet to Adam Fantilli would be a great start.
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