Players to replace guys like Datsyuk and Z and Lidstrom.. No. There might be a few "interesting" prospects in the system but none that make you look and say "wow, they could really be a star". I'm not saying that they aren't quality players potentially, but they aren't Datsyuk's. They draft well no doubt about it but eventually having such low draft picks for years and years will catch up. I posted in another thread that I think Parise will go to Minnesota in the off-season and that Suter may follow him there. Minnesota has finally put the pieces in place and rebuilt the right way. They have had a lot of high draft picks and they are only going to get better in the years to come. I have researched this a lot and could go into detail about it all but it would be a long comment. Anyway, that's the type of team Parise and high end guys will want to go to. They want to know that when they are 32, 33 they are going to be on a great team and Detroit doesn't really offer that because of the lack of star potential in the system and the aging roster as is. I just don't see it. I think the Wings will continue to be a good, quality team.. But lets face it, the days of domination are over with. I think Nashville gave a rude awaking to that.
And as far as treating players right, I don't think there is a team in the league that really treats them wrong. All I'm trying to say is that the Wings need to be honest about the future. This team needs to get younger because in a few years, the core of players Detroit has banked on for a decade or so won't be here or at least won't be producing the same way. Detroit is kinda sliding into that 7-8 seed year to year area. I mean the writing is on the wall you can see that the franchise in general is trending downward from where it has been.
And lastly, the Wings are sure to go after top guys, but as you said they will not overpay. Some other teams will because they can afford to do so. Again, teams like Minnesota or Dallas have come out and said they are ready to bid high for these guys. Any offer Holland makes is going to get matched or bested by another team. I don't see the Wings getting Parise or Suter. IMO.
Interesting because the Zetterberg's and Datsyuk's, and Crosby's and Malkin's are all golfing right now... Yet the teams that don't have the hall-of-famers are advancing on to the 2nd round and are in the mix to winning a Stanley cup. Hell, Boston did it last year.
Your flawed logic is believing a team needs to be built with all-star players to compete. Wings have "interesting" enough prospects to keep this team in the top 6 in the west after you include in the missing pieces via UFA signings.
It's not all doom and gloom.
EDIT:
I just re-read your post again and I now feel the need to pick it apart. It's just flawed in so many ways. I don't really want to get into a long and useless debate because I don't have time for it. And I know emotions are high right now because DRWs didn't win the cup.
But lets face it, the days of domination are over with. I think Nashville gave a rude awaking to that.
No, Nashville didn't give us a rude awaking of that. Bettman had this plan in place since the salary cap came in affect. It was only a matter of time before it caught up. That said, Holland is doing everything the right way. Other team's management are in willing to mortgage the future to win it all now. I appreciate Holland's approach.
They have had a lot of high draft picks and they are only going to get better in the years to come.
Having high-end draft picks mean nothing if they don't draft well. I think I read somewhere that Detroit's prospect pool was top 5 in the league. yet they don't get the high-end draft picks. That's impressive.
They want to know that when they are 32, 33 they are going to be on a great team and Detroit doesn't really offer that because of the lack of star potential in the system and the aging roster as is
he could go to minny, but c'mon, who knows where that team will be in 7 years. Heck, wild could sell out to Atlanta and become the "Atlanta Thrashers" in the next 3 years. Nobody knows. Minny might be desirable to him, but he's not the only UFA available before Zetterberg and Dats exceed their prime. Parise is just one player; he's not the only player.
And as far as treating players right, I don't think there is a team in the league that really treats them wrong.
guess we could ask cristobal huet and devin setoguchi their opinion...
Detroit is kinda sliding into that 7-8 seed year to year area. I mean the writing is on the wall you can see that the franchise in general is trending downward from where it has been.
Mhmmm, what I saw written on the wall was Howard pulled a groin, Ericssion hurt his wrist, Helm hurt knee, eaves jaw fell off, Lidstrom blocked a shot and got a deep bone bruise, Kindl hurt his upper body, Ian white fractured a cheek bone, and Datsyuk had an ankle issue. What does that mean? Does this mean Howard, Helm, Kindl, Ericsson, Eaves are all old and past their primes because they are injury prone? Or were these fluke injuries and bad luck? I suspect the latter.
Don't be a chicken little.
And lastly, the Wings are sure to go after top guys, but as you said they will not overpay. Some other teams will because they can afford to do so. Again, teams like Minnesota or Dallas have come out and said they are ready to bid high for these guys. Any offer Holland makes is going to get matched or bested by another team. I don't see the Wings getting Parise or Suter. IMO.
That's why Red Wings are the class of the league the past decade years. Let the bottom feeders overpay, it might get some fans to see a game or two once in awhile.
Parise and Suter aren't the only two hockey players to ever hit UFA and won't be the last. Holland should make a strong pitch to them, but not offer to pay more than fair market value or give them a stupid long contract.
Edited by Heaten, 23 April 2012 - 03:06 AM.
