I misread your post, I thought you meant you were advocating totally tanking to get a better draft pick, thus blowing up the team. I get what you are saying now.
The thing of it is, even with Z out, the playoff streak is still super important to the Wings organization and to a little lesser extent, the fans. So, we use the cap room having Z on LTIR and call up the farm. Roll with lines of...
Alfredsson-Datsyuk-Franzen
Nyquist-Weiss-Abdelkader
Jurco-Sheahan-Tatar
Miller-Helm-Andersson
(I have a feeling I am forgetting someone, but this is my favorite lineup)
...and we still have a team that can make a run for the 7 or 8 seed if guys stay healthy. If Datsyuk looks like he did for team Russia, he can carry us. Hopefully Weiss has had time to get acclimated here and can settle in, obviously he is a downgrade from Z on that line, but the emergence of that solid 3rd line can make up for it, just like it did without Datsyuk.
If we get in and get Zetterberg back for the first round, I wouldn't want to face us. Especially if I'm Pittsburgh knowing a Detroit has the two players who have shut down their top players in two different playoff series (specifically Crosby). Plus, if we are calling up the young guns, we might as well give them the experience of really pushing to make the playoffs, that's better for their progression than tanking it.
The forwards should be ok if everyone gets healthy and they roll with the guys that aren't finished.
It's the defense that will drag them down. Kindl is not playing as well as last year. Smith is ok one night and a tire fire the next. Q is a tire fire every night. That's the keystone for this team.
If the options are to make a big splash on a rental defenseman and go for it all whilst giving up major assets, or letting it ride with the existing crew and risking missing the playoffs (and having a shot at a lottery pick that would be a HUGE boost to this team's future), I don't think that's much of a choice. I think we'd all agree that the team has nothing much of value to sell, so that's not an option either.
Obviously we would all rather see them make the playoffs and then go on a majestic and miraculous run to the Cup. But those of us who live in the real world can at least admit that this season looks like crap and that dumping the future for a run at the 8th spot and a punch in the face from Pittsburgh is a bad idea.
That's how I see it anyway. It's a nuanced position. Don't sell, unless someone wants to give something (anything) for the dead wood. Don't buy, unless you can somehow get a cornerstone defenseman with several years of control (or with a contract extension signed and delivered per the terms of the trade). Let it ride with the kids and the dead wood.
When the season is over, cut the dead wood and make room for the kids, but also try to add a top 4 defenseman that can play a little defense. If you make the playoffs, give it your best shot. If you don't, try like hell to bribe the lottery guy and hope you can get your franchise defenseman that way. Either way, with all the injuries and not-outstanding talent happening this year, it's time to start (continue?) lowering expectations on this season, pronto.
This is a minor back surgery. Stop worrying.
It's going to keep him out the rest of the regular season, and he's been the best player on the team all season. It's worth worrying over. And that's if we assume he'll be fine long-term, which is not a given.