Peter_Doherty wrote:I still hold both Babcock and Holland in a very high regard but it seems like both them and Detroit Red Wings could use a fresh start.
I quoted just Dohery's instead of Primis long Wings rant
The problem with Red Wings is a multitude of things.
First, the Wings two biggest advantages that have allowed them have their playoff streak and become a model franchise is gone.
In the 90's the Wing's relied on no salary cap and Euro-Rus talent.
In the 2000's the Wing's relied on Euro-Rus talent and scouting since while the league started drafting Euro-Rus players, it was only the top ones.
The last few years the amount of Euro-Rus players has increased dramatically. One can only wonder where a Datysuk/Zetterberg would be draft in 2014 with the amount of attention those leagues get now compared to before, or heck Lidstrom.
What does this mean for Red Wings? It means they are now having to use "traditional" methods to build a team.
Why is this a problem?
The biggest reason is Free Agen'ts don't want to go to Detroit. This has been a growing problem over the last few years. There is a good article talking about how Niskanen never even considered Detroit and how Boyle turned down more money from Detroit to go to New York. Wives don't want to move their kids to a city known for crime and unemployment and a downtown with only two "good" safe walking blocks away from the oldest/most run down stadium in the league.
Did you know the doors to Joe Louis Arena have gaps near the floor so water runs out? Rain comes in through concourse ceiling.
However now we get to problem number two- trades.
Holland and the Wings front office did an amazing, amazing job building the organization. However they did using the non-traditional methods listed above primarily by grabbing Euro-Rus players no one else was scouting. Now they having to do it by trading, something the Red Wings have never really done in the past 20 years, can you think of big trades involving the team? Exactly. They are very few and far between.
This to me is Holland's biggest downfall-he is not a "wheeler and dealer" which you have to be in todays NHL. the Legwand trade was awful and most people didn't like it when it happened. Defense is the biggest need for the past few years yet the Wing's still have not traded for a Defenseman. Why the heck not? Ladislav Smid was traded last year, he is a guy Detroit could have used a lot, a straight up defensive minded player. Not a hall of famer, but someone who could have plugged a hole.
So now since Detroit can't sign FA's, and isn't willing to trade their prospects/draft picks, they are forced to overpay guys willing to stay like Quincy. If Quincy is worth 4m what is DeKeyser worth? What is Nyquist worth? Come on. They also had to overpay veterans with little/no other options (Bertuzzi, Clearly, Alfredsson)
Detroit fans are getting heat for being negative on such a great organization but the fans are watching and seeing this building over the last 3 or so years. The NHL has changed and the Red Wing's have not and lots of people are scared as to what will happen when Datysuk/Zetterberg are gone (in possibly only 2/3 years) since they are the last of an era.
Look at what Dallas as done in trades, look at what even Buffalo has done in trades. Trading is the name of the game in today's NHL and Red Wings just don't do it.
edit rant done
I don't want anyone fired, I just wish they would trade more instead of "wait and see" and then let young players walk in FA
