MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a subscriber-only notebook article this morning, and he suggested that the Red Wings might be better-served by playing younger players instead of continuing to ride their veterans:
The Red Wings haven’t gotten it done with veterans like Frans Nielsen, Valtteri Filppula and Darren Helm in the lineup. As hopes for better results quickly fade during this abbreviated 56-game season, the Red Wings should provide more opportunities for younger players. Some probably don’t have a future in the organization, but it’s worth a try.
This is why general manager Steve Yzerman’s decision to waive Evgeny Svechnikov, their top pick in 2015, and send him to the Grand Rapids Griffins without giving him a chance this season is puzzling. Perhaps Svechnikov isn’t an NHL player, but why not give him a good, long look?
If the season continues to spiral downward, Yzerman needs to do whatever roster shuffling is required to get as many young players as possible in the lineup, a list that also includes forward Michael Rasmussen and defensemen Dennis Cholowski and Gustav Lindstrom, who were assigned to the Griffins this week.
Continued (paywall)
