Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin discusses the “Stanley Cup Windows” of the Atlantic Division’s 8 franchises this morning, and, as you might expect, he’s not bullish on the Detroit Red Wings’ rebuild:
Detroit Red Wings
Cheering for this once-proud franchise has to be demoralizing. From the 10-year playoff drought, to the fact GM Steve Yzerman has stubbornly refused to take risks and trade his prospects for immediate help, to the fact he went all-in overpaying mediocre middle-six forwards a few summers back…and now the Dylan Larkin trade request. Not only does the latter cast doubt on the Wings’ ability to contend in a vicious division, but it holds the whole team hostage, as it’s hard to sign or extend players when they’re unsure of the team’s trajectory. Look at 2027 UFA Alex DeBrincat; he’s a local boy living his dream, but will he want to stay if the Wings miss the playoffs an 11th consecutive season given his only playoff experience came in 2020? It feels like Detroit’s best path forward is a GM change, but it’s never easy to fire a man who walks on water because of what he accomplished for the franchise as a player.
Continued; yes, it can be demoralizing to cheer for Detroit.
Yes, Dylan Larkin is essentially holding the team’s summertime moves and fan base hostage, and Steve Yzerman has little choice but to “wait out” the situation until he receives a good return for Larkin;
Yes, Yzerman has made mistakes as GM, especially in terms of overpaying the Andrew Copps and J.T. Comphers of the world.
But no, he does not walk on water because of what he’s done as a player–he serves at the will of the Ilitch family, who just aren’t going to fire him right now.
And no, the Red Wings are not a “Window Smashed” team, at least if the team’s prospects help whoever constitutes the post-Dylan Larkin Red Wings team to scratch and claw their way back into the Atlantic Division.
Things are bleak in Detroit right now. They aren’t hopeless.