SPRING WINGS
Most guys have barely had time to get their first rounds of golf in and already the rumor mill is churning. It’s no secret that the Wings need a few pieces, if they didn’t, they’d still be shooting for the back of the net instead of putting for birdie. What will make this off season interesting is that there really much you could say about the regular season or the playoffs that could be called normal. While the roller coaster ride was exciting and it was great seeing certain players emerge as bona fide NHLers, it’s tough to say whether or not that progression was an accurate reflection of player development, coincidental timing, or a flash in the pan. On the flip side, the same can be said for some of the veteran players. Is a pedestrian year the result of constant lineup changes? Lack of chemistry? Or have some players become a shell of their former selves, doomed to underachieve for their remaining years. A GM’s job is never particularly easy but it’s especially tough when reflecting on the past season includes so many question marks.
There are a few obvious things that will be on the Red Wings shopping list this summer and, not surprisingly, at the top of that list will be a right-handed D-man. While I’m not in favor of taking a lesser player simply because of the way he shoots, there’s no denying that a few more right-handed sticks on the stick rack would be a major asset. When an opposing team can plan a breakout based on that weakness, it’s a problem worth addressing, not to mention the obvious power play benefits.
In the life cycle of any franchise you inevitably end up with the age vs. youth debate every once and a while and the Red Wings are in that phase now. The youth, in this case, isn’t quite as young as some other teams as pretty much all the young guys that cracked the lineup this year are also old enough to go for a cold post-game beer, but nevertheless in the lifecycle of a Detroit Red Wing, these guys are young. Moving into next year the question will be which of the young players will be playing with the Winged Wheel on their chest and which will be headed back to Grand Rapids. Nyquist and Tatar are pretty obvious choices to stay. Luke Glendening made solid case for himself with his great defensive play. Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco both showed they should be with the Wings. Before you even start considering which of the older guys will be sticking around, wrap your head around the fact that 23 forwards suited up for the Wings for at least a game last year. Nine right wingers, nine centerman, and five left wingers. Do you try and keep some the vets up for free agency around? Do you bank on Weiss staying healthy for more than a week? Any which way you try and put the puzzle together there will be a few odd men out.
If there’s one GM move you probably can bank on, it’s the Wings using the compliance buyout on Jordin Tootoo. Ken Holland wasn’t exactly holding his cards close to his chest when he indicated that the Tootoo situation wasn’t good for either party at this point and that he intended to do what he could to get Tootoo back in the NHL, albeit for a different club.
Ken Holland’s got his hands full and that’s before you even get to the defense of goaltending situations...
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