HIFE
Registered User
There's group "A" and group "B" and a shade of group "C".
Group "A" is all about full tank. If you have a contract longer than 1 year for a player older than 20 years old and if the average age of teh team is over 24yrs old, then Ken Holland is "out of touch" and "doesn't know how to rebuild" -- play the kids even if it ruins them. In my opinion, because I am group "C", I think that is very unrealistic and detrimental to a logical rebuild. I believe those kind of rebuilds set you back. Wayyy back. We can see evidence of that from other teams like Sabres and Avalanche among many other young teams.
Group "B" is about good drafting and trading. They don't fully buy into the scorched earth TANK. And see the teams' current age and cap hit isn't a problem going forward, since there's apparent 4 to 5 year plan happening right now.
Group "C" is all about drafting. Rebuild through the draft doesn't mean 5 straight years of 1st overall picks, but shotgun approach at hoping to net that next Shea Weber or Subban or Johnny Gaudreau. Turn non-future players (Sheahan/Jurco) into draft picks. Green this year, Trevor Daley next year. All for picks... Then in 2019/20 sign another type of Trevor Daley or Ott, or Vanek to flip for picks. And repeat until you build your core. The rebuild will take 10 years... possibly 8 if we get Penguins type luck (not likely). Age of team and contracts doesn't matter. These players are not part of the future. They are the backbone of the team now to avoid being the Avs, Sabres, Oilers, Coyotes and etc... who wants to be a basement team every-single-season while drafting generational talent you pay $12.5 (most in the NHL) next season?
Group "A" is a very vocal small bunch that can't understand anything but their "method" as being the only possible right way. Group "B and "C" will never get onboard with Group "A". We are less vocal because we are a "wait-and-see" group, whereas Group "A" want instant change and results now and want the city to burn until it happens (or want ticket sales to plummet, which hurts the city/surrounding business just for instant change to a hockey franchise they want everyone to boycott).
This is a childlike generalization of the fans, including NHL fans and observers. As varied as the opinions here are the thought process considering the Wings isn't just black or white. Everybody knows you rebuild through the draft.
In reality the far greater majority are not pleased with Holland or the Wings. I guess you don't read comments form Mlive, DFP, WIIM, etc? 80% of the posts mock Holland or the team. Didn't you hear fans chanting "come home Stevie"? The hardcore fans (at least in Michigan) know this team is dead in the water. They're ready for an overhaul, at the very least an aggressive move or two to signal a break from the past. From sports analysts to HF polls the vast majority are sort of in disbelief at how slow Holland is approaching a rebuild- and how poor is our outlook for the near future.
Hey I respect the small yet devout group that is loyal to Holland and supportive of (most) his deals the last 5 years. 95% of HF may laugh at the Wings but in a way I'm glad there's a few who won't allow their pride to sway.