So after initially not being in favor of this move because of Jarnkrok, I'm actually more than fine with it now.
Let me start by saying that Jarnkrok has been my favorite prospect since watching him at the World Juniors a few years back. I thought he had a real smart hockey mind that can't be taught and his skating was a big positive at that time. To me, he looked like the player that we had always hoped Filppula would become (this was before Filppula's big 11-12 season and his current season.)
With that being said, Jarnkrok was never a Datsyuk/Zetterberg level player and the chances that he becomes one are beyond slim IMO. He had the ceiling of a very good 2-way 2nd line center in my mind, which is still very valuable. But let's face it, even reaching that potential is far from guaranteed at this point. I'm still hopeful that he becomes a solid NHLer but I'm not quite as high on him as I was when I first seen him as his skating has leveled off as he's played against better competition. We all still valued him so highly because he had the highest potential amongst are centers, which is obviously the weakness in our pool.
In comes Legwand, basically the player we hoped we were getting in Weiss. You know what you're getting from Legwand. I'm thinking it's very likely that he's here for longer than just this remaining season, which brings me to the main factor in not minding this move now:
(And let me also mention we didn't lose a 1st where we will almost certainly take a center this draft)
As much as we our encouraged by our youth, our biggest window of opportunity is likely within the next 2-3 years where Datsyuk and Zetterberg can still perform at a fairly high level. As much as I liked Jarnkrok, he wasn't ready to contribute at a level as high as Legwand will for the next 2-3 seasons. I think Holland seen Legwand as an obvious need for the rest of this season, while also really going for it in the next couple seasons.
Can anyone possibly deny that Legwand isn't an upgrade over Jarnkrok for this team right now and for the next couple years? Jarnkrok wasn't going to be a #1 center in my mind. We don't have to worry about center prospects for the next few years because we now have Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Helm, Legwand, Weiss, Sheahan, and Andersson. This allows us to draft a center high this year and develop him for when these players are on their way out. Additionally, the influx of centers potentially allows us to move players (Helm, Sheahan, Tatar) for a legit top 3 defencemen, which you and I know is probably the biggest need in the next couple years.
It's funny, usually this board is so short sighted, but IMO too many of you are looking too far ahead and only thinking distant future instead of thinking now and tomorrow.
Lastly, I also thought why not tank and get a higher draft position this year. Well, that's not how Detroit runs things and shame on us for ever wanting them to do that. They can build the right way. Even if they only played the youth, we aren't likely to get a high pick. So let's tank for 3-4 spots? Grow up. For all of the complaining about Holland doing nothing since 09, look at all of the young players that have since been drafted. These turnarounds don't happen overnight and while some of you have done nothing but complain about him in that time span, Detroit has developed their deepest prospect pool I can ever remember.
And as far fetched as it is to make a run this year, if we make the playoffs you just never know. There's a reason they actually play the series out on the ice rather than paper. There are no powerhouses in the East right now. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Helm, and Weiss could all be back. And if that happens, look out. Additionally, this is a business so making the playoffs does matter financially in ways many of us are ignorant to. And like I said, there is no tanking for #1 at this point. Even if we attempted to tank we aren't gaining much ground. But regardless, I like our team's near future and you can bet that I'll be watching and rooting for them every game from here on out.
Go Wings.
