DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills looks back toward Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s post-free agency press conference, noting Yzerman’s blunt remarks regarding the team’s offseason outlook:
“Going into free agency, we all recognized that it was going to be difficult all around the League,” Yzerman said. “For whatever reason, there weren’t as many what we would all consider high-end free agents available this year. So, it wasn’t really a shock to us that we weren’t able to get anything done with any of the bigger-name guys.”
But that didn’t prevent Detroit from complementing its already-talented core.
“Jacob Bernard-Docker gives us a little bit of depth on defense,” Yzerman said. “Not a big-name signing but has been an effective player in his time in Ottawa in particular. He plays hard and competes…Up front with JVR, on the left wing, bigger body…Mason Appleton as well, a right winger that plays on the penalty kill and chips in a little bit of offense.”
And the offseason isn’t over yet. So, even with these new faces being added to the mix, Yzerman said the Red Wings will continue exploring opportunities to improve the roster.
“It’s just been my experience over the years that things kind of work themselves out,” Yzerman said. “Opportunities arise. You try to force it or chase it, there’s too many years, too many dollars or you give up too much in a trade…Trying to be diligent, maybe patient, just wait for the right player, the right opportunity, whether it is in a trade or in free agency, to add to our lineup and use our assets wisely if we can.”
Continued; Yzerman may or may not have done enough to improve his team’s roster through the free agent marketplace alone, but he was completely honest about how things worked out.
