The Detroit Red Wings secured their first win last Wednesday night, defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-3.
As ironic as it was to see Dylan Larkin score after being booed out of the building, things can get much worse for the Red Wings than that.
In fact, you could say that the Larkin circus is nothing more than the tip of the iceberg for Detroit. And no, missing the playoffs yet again is not the worst thing that could happen to the Red Wings.
No, completely falling off the radar and finishing last overall is not the worst thing that could happen to the Red Wings.
The worst thing that could happen to the organization is to have its dysfunction become so apparent that no one will want to go near it with a 10-foot pole.
Think about that for a second. Players seek organizations known for their structure and player treatment, and they compete for chances to play there. We’re talking about Florida, Dallas, Colorado, Vegas and Carolina, which are, incidentally, contending teams.
In fact, Florida was once a place where no one wanted to sign. Players tried to block trades to the Panthers because they didn’t want to be part of their organization.
The Panthers changed that perception and become one of the top destinations in the league.
But that’s not Detroit’s case. The Simon Edvinsson situation is a good example. Re-signing him should have been a three-foot putt. Instead, it’s become such a nightmare that Edvinsson is practicing in Sweden, hoping that someone will put him out of his misery.
Red Wings desperately need to clean up their image
The Red Wings desperately need to clean up their image. That means showing players that they are the sort of organization where they can grow and thrive.
That’s critical, especially when it comes time to making deals. Assuming the Red Wings will be looking to move out veterans like Justin Faulk at the trade deadline, the Wings’ negative image could hamper the return they get.
For instance, getting a high-end prospect would be out of the question, particularly if that prospect may be reluctant to sign in Detroit. Other established players may attempt to block a trade to Detroit.
Then, there’s free agency.
Seeing the mess that Detroit has become, who in their right mind would sign a seven-year deal to play with the Red Wings?
Can you see Connor McDavid bolting from Edmonton for Detroit?
What about Quinn Hughes? Would he be willing to pass on Minnesota to head to Detroit?
Sure, the Red Wings will find guys to round out the roster. But they won’t be competitive anytime soon. That’s why they need to clean up their image as much as possible.
That move starts with finding a full-time GM, whether it's Shawn Horcoff or someone else.
The next step would be to resolve the Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson situations once and for all. As easy as that sounds, it might be one of the hardest things the organization might have to do this season.
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