Nobody is saying it would have been bad if Kindl had developed faster. Reality is most D dont come into their own until they are mid to late 20's. Now is a dumb time to give up on Kindl. He's progressing nicely.
The problem with Kindl however, is that the Red Wings have a crowded blue line going into next season with 5 guys under contract (Kronwall, Ericsson, Quincey, Colaiacovo and Lashoff) and 2 RFA's (Smith and Kindl). That gives the Red Wings 7 dmen. That's a crowded blue line for a team that will be looking to make an upgrade via UFA this summer. Based on Kindl rotating as a #6/7 guy and Lashoff pretty much being in the top 6 every game on a team that has seen a boatload of injuries, this is how the depth chart probably looks to the organization going into next season:
1. Kronwall
2. Ericsson
3. Smith
4. Quincey
5. Colaiacovo
6. Lashoff
7. Kindl
I'm guessing the Red Wings will probably want to make an upgrade that will fit somewhere between Kronwall and Colaiacovo on the depth chart, which would push Kindl down to #8. With so many forwards already, and the need to make space for Tatar and Andersson and possibly a UFA next season, I doubt they will want to carry 8 dmen. Based on this, Kindl would seem to be the odd man out.
Sure Kindl hasn't reached his prime yet, but after 3 seasons he still has not proved he belongs in the Red Wings top 6. They can't just keep burning a roster spot waiting for him to hit his prime. Maybe a change of scenery would be helpful to him.
He has looked better this season, but I am solely basing this on how the team has been using him.
Edited by DSM, 26 February 2013 - 11:01 AM.