Jeremy Laura: Detroit Red Wings 4 game western sweep - the kids are alright

Shine was sent back down to GR.

There's been a bunch of back n forth here about The Captain's deafting being unacceptable, bad, wasted.... whatever. Simple fact is, drafting alone won't win a team into the SCPO; ya gotta find guys to fill gaps via trades or UFA. Definitely been some trade & UFA issues by The Captain, no gonna argue that.

I'd offer that drafted players take time to mature, and for many DRW fans - time isn't on our side. But if you tear a house down to rafters, you ain't sleeping in it that night. You have to deliberately build a suitable structure. And accept that it's going to take time for things to hit......or not. The big thing is the plan to deploy players, there's little argument that Lalonde wasn't what was needed. Todd Mac's got this team playing well and drafted kids are pushing some vets into obscurity....thankfully. But we're still a ways away from being contenders and there are still holes to fill. But ROI is finally starting to show positive (still a way to go, no doubt). What's surprising to me is how quickly this team's made a serious charge. Maybe it's the duldrums of the season, maybe studs are holding back for fear of injury before 4 Nations, maybe it's a legit turn.

The really good thing is that we still have kids developing in the A, Europe, NCAA, etc... But we can't lose sight of continuing to draft but now maybe focus on vetter UFA/trades to push the rebuild a bit? I don't know the answer to that. Not sure any of us do....but any more misses like Chiarot or Holl are going to show more negatively than ever.

I mean, it was said here by someone else, but bears repeating: Imagine this team with Walman and/or Ghost. We'd probably be in better shape with them under TM. But....this team's good....been said here by several. And it's only going to get better. Wanna see ASP & Buchelnikov playing in NA, MBN probably won't see NA ice for another year & change.

Those that say we need a super-stud or 2? I don't disagree, but Raymond's showing serious potential, Mo Sides is legit. Eddy's got chops....These are guys who change the opposing team's focus when they're on the ice and take over a game with little effort.

I wanted to see improvement over last year, and danged if I'm seeing it!!!

Shine was sent back down to GR.
- HenryHockey

Dude was nice to watch. Wonder who's coming back?

EDIT: Just read he went down, seems part of getting him back to GR, combined with his contract status? Kinda confusing, but that easy to do to me sometimes!!

Shine was sent back down to GR.
- HenryHockey

Detroit is off til Saturday. May be a cap accrual thing. No clue for sure

Dude was nice to watch. Wonder who's coming back?

EDIT: Just read he went down, seems part of getting him back to GR, combined with his contract status? Kinda confusing, but that easy to do to me sometimes!!
- mcmastermike1968

As a 31 year old who signed his first NHL contract this year, Shine is waiver exempt for the remainder of this season.

Sending him down when he is not needed helps the Red Wings bank a little extra cap space -- and every dollar they save there is an extra dollar of Kane's performance bonus that doesn't get tacked onto next year's cap sheet. Frankly as long as the Wings are off and/or have at least 12 healthy forwards they can ice I imagine that they will leave the roster spot unfilled.