Yesterday, I talked about how a disastrous offseason of acquisitions (for the most part) might imply another long season for the Detroit Red Wings. But it's only one side of the story and, to be honest, one take.
One reason we can defend Steve Yzerman is that he's been horrible with acquiring outside talent, sans Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. I mean, we don't need to look much further beyond the names Yzerman's brought in during his tenure as general manager.
As far as guys already on the team go, names like Justin Holl, Erik Gustafsson, and J.T. Compher have been miserable for the most part. And, in a best case scenario, they've underachieved. Then there was the Vladimir Tarasenko fiasco, which ended when the Wings shipped him to Minnesota for nothing.
So, by playing the long game, it may look disastrous, but it could also be the best thing Yzerman could have done here. One reason is that we know just how good he is at identifying, pinpointing, and drafting talent, starting with Moritz Seider in 2019.
A "disastrous offseason" of pedestrian acquisitions may not be so bad for the Red Wings
It's not to say Yzerman didn't try this past summer to bring in big names like Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Marchment, or others who may've been on the market if their current teams didn't re-sign them. But even then, with Yzerman's track record of calling out the wrong name, maybe it makes sense to wait on prospects like Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, among others.
You also have Sebastian Cossa waiting in the wings, so if John Gibson struggles with injuries during his time in Hockeytown and Cam Talbot shows his age, it's not like the Wings don't have help on the way.
And, considering how well Yzerman's drafted in the first round, it's almost a given that all of the above names will evolve into at least solid contributors. Solid contributors who will give the Wings way more than what those who he signed or traded for have given.
While I'm quick to critique Yzerman for not doing enough, part of me also says, "You know what, maybe this is, counterintuitively, the best thing he can do." So yeah, I might use terms like "offseason mess," when talking about his lack of moves back in July, but there is a side that understands completely.
As I write this, we're about a month away from the prospects reporting and giving us their first impressions of why they deserve a spot on the big club. Maybe one of them will break out and find a spot in the top six? Or, maybe Sandin-Pellikka shows enough to prove he belongs on the blue line?
We can reflect all we want from late June and early July, and wonder who Yzerman could've brought in. But let's not forget that most of the outside talent he acquired never did much for the Wings to begin with.
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