The Detroit Red Wings are at a key juncture in their direction. But until they figure out what they want to do, they're in one of the worst situations in the NHL.
They're too good to rebuild, but not talented enough to contend. They've got plenty of key contributors, but a lack of depth has been their doom for years. Now, they have no sense of what the future will hold.
If the Red Wings try the same approach they did in years past, they'll end with the same results. Until they fully decide to commit to one direction, they're doomed to make the same mistakes.
Where the Red Wings can go from here
Ultimately, they've got two choices: they can either commit to the current team or try and forge a new path. Committing to this team would involve trying to keep disgruntled captain Dylan Larkin happy while trading for present help. It likely means trading prospects for NHL-ready players and trusting that this current core can get it done.
In short: it means re-committing to the Yzerplan.
The other (and far more likely) path is one that's tougher, but could yield untold results. It involves making difficult decisions about the current state of the roster and, eventually, selling off assets.
The biggest pain point among fans will be the timeline. After all, the Red Wings have already made it a full decade outside the playoffs. How much more can fans expect to wait? How long would a retool - or, heaven forbid, a full rebuild - take?
There's a growing sense in the air that things need to change in Hockeytown. Change, as we've all come to know this offseason, can be quite uncomfortable. It may involve moving on from your franchise captain or your general manager. Sometimes, it can even involve trading away players you've come to know and love.
Unfortunately, that's the name of the game in today's NHL. Teams like the Vegas Golden Knights employ this ruthlessly, casting off players the moment they're no longer contributing to the solution.
How the next general manager should approach this next step
The first thing the next general manager of the Red Wings should do is take a good, long look at the team's current assets. Despite the obvious warts on the roster, there's a lot to love. Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are on exceptionally team-friendly deals. Simon Edvinsson is one of the most exciting young defensemen in the league. Depth players like Emmitt Finnie and Albert Johansson fill out key roles in the lineup.
There's a lot to love about the prospect pool, too. The next general manager needs to see all of these players in action to determine who will stick around long term, who they'll part ways with and who they can potentially flip for key difference-makers.
Some may look at the current state of the Red Wings as a mess to clean up. The right general manager will see this as a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
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