Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff chimes in on the Red Wings’ free agent signings this afternoon. Duff suggests that the Red Wings are taking steps backward, not forward, by re-signing Mike Green and Thomas Vanek and bringing in Jonathan Bernier:
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.
I must admit, I agree with Mr Duff’s every word on this topic. That is a bit unusual when it comes to the Media.
I can not say how I really feel about Holland’s attempt to get the fans, etc to believe in his lunacy.
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
The Wings getting themselves in this place in the first place is what’s the real problem. This could and should have been avoided, but the kind of ‘turn a blind eye’ when the writing was on the wall has landed the Red Wings in a deep hole that I don’t think has many remedies.
This ‘rebuild’ will take time, some skilled moves and some old fashioned puck luck.
Goal scorers would be nice… too bad they don’t grow on trees, or fall from the sky. 🙂
The Duffer is spot on. I’ve received more communications from the Wings ticket staff than ever before…phone call, emails and snail mail. Contacting me about a season ticket plan is the equivalent of looking for change in the couch cushions. It’s worth a shot but you’re not likely to find anything.