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Getting older, not better |
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Ken Holland’s definition of a rebuild is different from the norm, to say the least.
The general manager of the Detroit Red Wings insists his team, out of the playoffs the past two springs, is in rebuilding mode, but based on what the team did Sunday on the first day NHL teams were eligible to sign unrestricted free agents, you’d think they were merely tweaking things.
After keeping veteran defenseman Mike Green, 32, via a two-year, $10.75 million deal, the club brought back former Detroit left wing Thomas Vanek, 34, on a one-year, $3 million pact and then reached out to bring in Jonathan Bernier, 29, in as Jimmy Howard’s back-up goalie on a three-year contract totalling $9 million.
It’s easy and correct to wonder what these moves mean to the chances of young players like defensemen Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek and Joe Hicketts and forwards Michael Rasmussen, Filip Zadina and Evgeny Svechnikov making an immediate impact in Detroit with even more veterans clogging their path to a role on the team.
Wait - two years ago, didn’t the Wings miss the playoffs with Green and Vanek in the lineup?
That’s right, they did. Yet by bringing both back, Holland was seeking to sell the idea that it improves their chances of being compete for postseason play.
“As we go forward here over the next year of two, we’re obviously trying to transition from older people,” Holland said in a conference call. “It’s important that we’re competitive. We’ve signed some veteran players. It’s important that we’ve got some veterans around our kids.
“At the same time, it’s important that our kids are going to get an opportunity. We believe we can make both things happen.”
What Holland doesn’t seem to comprehend is that being competitive right now is the worst possible solution for Detroit’s future. The Wings don’t need to keep just missing the playoffs. They need to stop missing out on the Rasmus Dahlins of the hockey world.
On the one hand, it’s a puzzling approach. Then again, as you looked around at the many empty seats at the new Little Caesars Arena, did you really believe the team line that the reason for those empty seats was because everyone was wandering around the concourse?
The fact of the matter is it’s been a battle for the team this summer so far in terms of season-ticket renewals, and as much as bottoming out would help the Wings get a franchise player, it won’t do much for the franchise’s bottom line.
Holland admitted he is trying to have the best of both worlds, but all that’s done the past two seasons is create a losing environment. Still, he believes in the long term, their approach is going to pan out.
“We’ve got lots of kids coming,” Holland said. “It’s going to take a little bit of time. We’re going to have to have some patience. I believe we’re headed in the right direction. In the short term, trying to bring in some veteran players to mentor, to role model the young kids.
“We need to be competitive. It’s important to develop players in an environment that’s positive and we go into every game with a chance to win. We’re trying to obviously juggle having veterans on the roster with moving depth players into the roster.”
That blueprint hasn’t panned out to a playoff spot the past two seasons and third-time unlucky would seem to be almost a certainty at this point.
Minor Matters
The Wings also signed several players on Sunday who figure to be playing for their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids this season.
Goaltender Harri Sateri, who played nine games for the Florida Panthers last season, was signed, as were center Wade Megan, left wing Chris Terry and defenseman Jake Chelios.
Terry led the AHL in scoring last season, while Megan led the AHL with 33 goals in 2016-17. Chelios, the son former Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, played in the AHL with Charlotte last season.
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