1) And nobody thought that Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk would turn out to be two elite Cs, that Nick Kronwall would be a top pairing D, that Gus Nyquist would actually have the ceiling of being a top line guy, etc. You don't plan on getting a "franchise guy" if you're a team like Detroit and you're not getting top 3 picks where those guys go. You concentrate on getting good players to develop to become something like that.
Plus, even though time goes by fast, we still have three years of having two elite Cs in the NHL right now. Right at this second, we don't necessarily need a franchise C in the system. (Yes, it is an organizational need and one that the organization is trying to address. I'm not saying that we're not going to need one, but we don't have to necessarily get one tomorrow because he'd simply be sitting in the AHL for a couple of years anyway).
at the time they were drafted, no.
it's been 15 years since they last drafted an elite player. they have no magic ability to do it. they have had fairly long periods of below average drafting (05-09) which is part of why we are not able to take the next step as a team.
there has been one franchise center drafted after top 5 since lockout (giroux). some that show potential to be one have been drafted in top 10.
if we got mackinnon, he definitely wouldn't be spending couple of years in the AHL.
even if we have three years of elite play from euro twins, that isn't all guaranteed, we are pretty much going nowhere anyway as that defense won't cut it. don't see it changing much in next 3 years.
drafting and scouting has evolved from what it was in 90s or even early 2000s. there is no more players that no one has ever seen except håkan.
i think it's far more likely that we have nothing even close to franchise center and dman on the pipeline than that we would have ones.
would be thrilled to be wrong.
2) FAs aren't going to suddenly not want to come here either. The Wings had specific needs and specific targets that picked other teams for reasons beyond hockey (Suter, family/money; Boyle, MSL; Niskanen, former coach). They also landed Stephen Weiss and Daniel Alfredsson over teams with better shots at the title and more/similar money.
i haven't read one report that other teams gave more money to weiss than us.
getting players like alfie is nice but if that's all we get at UFA.. well, it's just not enough.
wings have failed far more at UFA market than they have succeded (not that it's always bad thing, biggest UFA signing since hossa is weiss and.. well). i dont think getting UFAs is that important normally but we are lacking talent between ages 25-30,
What Holland and co say is true. Back before the cap, you did have only about eight teams that were serious contenders to sign the top players. Now, all 30 teams potentially have the resources and needs to be a realistic suitor for a free agent.
true. but the problem is that that is NOT going to change. there will be 30 (+) teams competing for services of the players as long as the CBA won't change significantly. it's not kenny's fault. it doesn't matter, it will be hard from now to get the players you want and at good prices.
3) If we had the assets to acquire a young franchise D man, Ken Holland would most likely make the trade. But, the Wings don't have those assets and are facing the reality of their core leaving in the next five years. What good does it do the team to acquire a flawed top pairing D now if they clear out their NHL-ready prospects to do it and they're left scrambling for talent in 2017 when Datsyuk hangs up his skates, Zetterberg is likely in full-on decline, and the top pairing D they acquired with the kids they traded is gone?
i agree with that. it's too late now.
i think our best bet is to hope that our prospects pan out like we hope (and even more). then the only real need is that franchise center. maybe we can make seguin like trade then.
long-shot but the best we have imo.
