The Detroit Red Wings are in the ultimate catch-22. They could have a dynamic first line with Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond, and I projected this would be the trio on opening night if the Red Wings left everything as-is.
But it's not the best route to go, especially with Patrick Kane in town for another season. DeBrincat should play on the second line, which is where he'd be in a perfect world that would see the Red Wings finally break their playoff drought. Instead, DeBrincat's a de-facto first-liner, because, well, there's nobody else on the team I'd trust at the moment.
I've seen some fans peg Elmer Soderblom there, but I'm not sold on him at this point in his NHL career. And looking down the Wings lineup, there's really nobody else, unless they wanted to experiment some with players they got, but there are immediate drawbacks to that mentality.
It's why I said a blockbuster trade would save the team's summer, with Rickard Rakell as the lead candidate. Maybe they'd make a play for Jordan Kyrou, but who would Steve Yzerman want to give up? The St. Louis Blues figure to compete this season; the Pittsburgh Penguins, not so much.
Red Wings top line wouldn't be bad as-is, but it could compromise the team
The key word is 'could,' because let's suppose the Wings keep everything as-is, and there's a good chance that they do, and Soderblom plays well on the second line, should DeBrincat snag a spot on the first line. Or, maybe Soderblom's on the first line and does a good job alongside Larkin and Raymond?
You can swap in anyone you want for Soderblom, like James van Riemsdyk. But the point is, there's a good chance the Wings will play with a compromised top six. Soderblom's unproven, van Riemsdyk's past his prime, and there's nobody else capable of playing full-time at the NHL level this year good enough for the top six.
This leaves the Red Wings in a less-than-ideal situation if Steve Yzerman doesn't resolve it. But maybe he will. Hey, I doubt the insiders get the entire picture when they're told the Red Wings may, or may not be, seriously consdiering a trade.
Ideally, somebody steps up and Alex DeBrincat's playing alongside Patrick Kane
The lines change like none other throughout the season, so when I say 'alongside Patrick Kane,' I mean this is primarily the case. Kane and DeBrincat should find themselves on the same line more often than not, since they've more than proven they have chemistry with not one, but two organizations - the Blackhawks and Red Wings.
But if that were the case right now, the Red Wings are taking a massive risk putting someone unproven on that top line. Ditto for a player well past their prime. So, if I were Steve Yzerman, I'm making a trade before training camp, bringing in someone who can forge chemistry with Larkin and Raymond.
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