The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau argues that the Red Wings “need help” in order to earn a playoff spot, and he’s not talking about earning wins through hard work and determination as the Wings face the toughest remaining schedule in the NHL:
And now that a playoff spot is within reach, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman needs to be a buyer at or before the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline. The Red Wings are projected to have approximately $9.15 million in salary cap space by the deadline, That’s more than enough to address their issues. And those issues include a defense corps that is hardly one of the league’s most imposing groups.
Would Yzerman be willing to spend that cap space on a veteran defenseman rental like Montreal’s David Savard? That’s an intriguing proposition. The Canadiens are aiming to secure a playoff spot for themselves, so Savard may not be available. But, there are other options for the Wings on ‘D’. For example, San Jose’s Mario Ferraro should be on the trade block, and his $3.25-million salary runs through the 2025-26 season, so he’s not a pure rental. However, he would be an upgrade for the Red Wings’ back end, and he can deliver 20 minutes per night at a relatively high level of play.
In any case, the Wings have to capitalize on this hot streak and get themselves over the finish line to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years. They haven’t come this far only to get this far, and it’s now on Yzerman to figure out how to have his group emerge as a playoff team by season’s end.
Detroit can’t squander the opportunity their hot stretch has provided them, and this next stretch of games will tell us whether or not this Wings team is a true contender, or merely a pretender destined for the NHL’s ‘mushy middle’ — not bad enough to land a top draft pick, but not good enough to be a post-season team. In sum, there’s no room for error, and nothing short of a continuation of the Red Wings’ excellent play is going to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The NHL is a zero-sum business, and the Wings now must prove they’re capable of succeeding in this high-stakes stretch. And if they do fall back to earth and lose out on a playoff berth, there could and should be notable changes next summer.
A playoff spot is theirs for the taking, but failure to make it to the post-season will not reflect well on Yzerman’s blueprint for success. The pressure is on, and the way the Red Wings respond to it will dictate the organization’s short and long-term direction.
Continued; at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the GM makes an aggressive move to bolster the team’s defense and center ice positions, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he stands pat. It’s all about the cost of doing business, and what’s available out there.
