There's no shortage of work to be done with the Detroit Red Wings, but some steps are more important than others.
It goes without saying that the new general manager has a shortlist of items to accomplish, from trading a disgruntled captain to choosing the team's next leader. While some moves - like the Larkin trade - can be approached slowly, others require more immediate action.
These three moves are the first steps the next general manager of the Red Wings needs to accomplish right away:
1. Establish a direction
The first (and arguably most important) thing the next general manager has to accomplish is determining the future of the team. Do they stick with the current core, attempt to placate Larkin and make moves to contend? Or do they accept the current fate of the team and bottom out for the foreseeable future?
There are, of course, benefits to both sides, though the obvious one appears to be letting the team reset. It's clear that, where it stands right now, the current core isn't enough to make a push for the playoffs. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, so why repeat the process here?
Every decision going forward will go with whatever direction the team chooses.
2. Extend Simon Edvinsson
Another obvious task - regardless of the team's direction - is to extend defenseman Simon Edvinsson. Edvinsson had a great season through the first three quarters, then struggled a bit following an injury before the Olympics. Earlier in the offseason, rumors swirled of potential offer sheets, though the organization quickly waved those worries aside.
REPORT: The threat of a Simon Edvinsson offer sheet has never been a worry throughout the Red Wings organization.
They are ready to match any price he received with an offer sheet.
(via @AnsarKhanMLive) pic.twitter.com/35ajr1YHw8
No matter which direction the next general manager takes, the smartest thing they can do is extend Edvinsson for as long as possible. The more team-friendly, the better, though it's entirely possible Edvinsson takes a bridge deal to earn a bigger payday in the future. Either way, locking down Moritz Seider's defensive partner for the foreseeable future should be a top priority for the next general manager.
3. Move on from one of the "jerseys"
Last season, head coach Todd McLellan made a remark about underperforming players in the lineup.
"Right now, for us, I think we have some players that are playing well, and we have some guys that are just jerseys," McLellan said. "What I mean by that is that they're wearing jerseys, they're skating around, they're eating up minutes, but we need more. We just flat out need more."
The new general manager needs to send a message to both fans and the team alike that there's a new sheriff in town. Moving on from an underperforming player like Michael Rasmussen shows to fans that the team is focused on getting better. This will, in turn, immediately endear the fanbase to the organization.
Additionally, it signals to the players that there's no room for this kind of behavior anymore. If you don't perform up to the new manager's expectations, you don't have a place on this roster. It immediately sets a precedent for production and opens up a spot for a young player to take his place.
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