The Athletic’s Sean Gentille conducted an offseason mailbag feature today, and he answered two Red Wings-related questions:
Which rebuilding team wins a championship first? Hawks, Coyotes, Canadiens, Sabres, & the Kraken (though not “re” building) come to mind as franchises in similar positions right now. I’d bet on LA or Detroit before any of those, but they’re further along in the process. (Late additions: New Jersey and Anaheim)
— Andrew G.
I’m not comfortable picking the Coyotes to win anything. The Blackhawks haven’t completed the teardown, though it’s early in the day, so who knows? Kent Hughes did well to fix one long-term cap issue in Montreal but still has one to go. I love the Sabres, but it’s still relatively early for them. I’m not considering the Kraken because they’re playing with a different set of cards. The Devils have huge pieces but not a ton else in the NHL.
From your group? It’s Detroit. They’ve got elite young players in the NHL, some really solid mid-20s pieces, a strong prospect base, a nice cap situation, an influx of win-now guys and Steve Yzerman running the whole deal. What’s not to love? Seems almost unfair to include them. It should be a really attractive spot for big names, too … which we’ll discuss shortly.
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Break down who you think will win the Matthew Tkachuk sweepstakes and why….
— Charles W.
We’ve written a ton about this in the last few days, and I still think smart money has to be on the Blues. They’re prohibitive favorites for reasons beyond the obvious, starting with the ability to offer Jordan Kyrou as a centerpiece. So they’re my pick — but man, the Red Wings are a compelling option. If I’m Tkachuk, and going home isn’t in the cards, I’m trying to land in Detroit. That roster is officially on the verge of decency, and I’m not sure hockey means more to any U.S. market.
Continued (paywall); here’s hoping…
