Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon offers “offseason grades” for the Atlantic Division’s eight teams, and he’s very fair regarding Detroit’s uncertain situation:
Key arrivals: Viktor Arvidsson, W; Daniil Tarasov, G; Keegan Kolesar, W
Key departures: Patrick Kane, W
Grade: C-
The Wings’ off-season was thrown into chaos when we learned captain Dylan Larkin had requested a trade. Then, just as we were wrapping our heads around how Larkin’s demand might play out, it was announced Steve Yzerman would be coming off his post as general manager and moving upstairs.
Now, with the calendar having flipped to August and the start of training camp basically six weeks away, it just feels as though Detroit is in a giant holding pattern. The GM search has yet to yield a replacement for Yzerman and, as far as we know, nothing the organization does between now and the end of the summer is going to change the way Larkin sees his NHL future.
Add to that the fact burgeoning defenceman Simon Edvinsson needs a new contract and that sniper Alex DeBrincat is entering the final year of his deal, and there’s just uncertainty everywhere you look in the Motor City.
Maybe a new GM will land on the scene and deftly move to address all the issues. But it sure feels like — with the team now 10 years removed from its most recent playoff appearance — momentum is moving the wrong way in Detroit.
Continued…It’s a fair grade…for now…
