This team has barely scraped into the playoffs several times recently. Make no mistake, Ken Holland and all of the management is aware the Wings aren't a powerhouse. They've been upfront with their long-term goals and won't start deviating from the slow build because they missed the playoffs by a point.
But take heart, "the plan" does include upgrading the defense. Holland has been quite open about trying to sign every decent defender free agent and of course the big Phaneuf deadline talks. We haven't heard the last of the Phaneuf talks, is an educated guess.
I don't think Holland is satisfied with the team, but he's also the least reactionary GM in the league. His "panic move" was trading a B prospect in Jarnkrok for Legwand. That's about as dramatic as it gets for him. Otherwise he's going to keep relying on his scouts and drafting players to bring into the fold year after year. It's a slow burn process, no doubt. It's incredibly frustrating when the team can't get to that next level.
But, to the Wing's credit, I don't think they are delusional about the defense. They are simply in a league where over half the teams in it are also looking to upgrade their blueline. There's more average to below average bluelines in the NHL than there are good to great ones. And that's why 2nd pairing guys with any skill at all are going to keep getting over $5 million a year.
We're not going to see dramatic changes to the Wings until Datsyuk retires. Until then, Holland needs to find a way to FINALLY sign key free agents or swing a trade of substance. He's been unable to do so in years and that's the real tarnish to his recent resume. He's tried, he really has, but after years of trying eventually the efforts aren't enough to maintain position both with morale and in the standings.
And what exactly IS "the plan" to turn this defense around? None of these guys in Grand Rapids are blue-chip guys. We're not over-flowing with talent on defense, like we are up front.
And then on the big club we have guys like Ericsson who have been lackluster, Smith who has not improved since last year's playoffs, and Kindl who gets scratched nightly. We have Kronwall, Dekeyser.... and what? I loved the Zidlicky trade, but is he even going to be here in 6 months? Or does his body hold up at his age? Who knows...
You say he's not reactionary, but he wasn't going after guys in free agency like he did this year... until this year. When Lidstrom and Raffy were towards the end, he balked at the prices that were handed out for Ehrhoff and Wisniewski type guys, and opted instead for the bargain bin guys like Ian White. A guy who was good for a hot minute for the Wings, then is playing in some league I've never heard of now. Instead of guys who could still be here and contributing now.
But then now this off-season he finally wants to pay to play, and we're supposed to believe it was part of some master plan? No. He failed to address the defense until it was too late. He put too many of his eggs in the Ryan Suter basket. He drafted guys in the 1st round that haven't panned out, and the guys waiting in the wings are just solid, but unspectacular. These prospects on defense aren't Mantha and Larkin level talents. They're not.
There's no reason to believe things are going to get better, because things have just gotten steadily worse for the last 3-4 years. (on defense)