Two insane things.
1. Of the 7 defensemen listed...Ericsson is the one still with the team...
2. The Franchise have traded Jarnkrok, Janmark, Pulkkinen, Jurco, Sheahan, Tatar, Sproul, Smith, Mrazek and god knows who I'm missing on the list. Point being, plenty of fairly high picked players in the draft who except for Tatar, never really given a proper chance in the type of role they originally were drafted for. The "They must earn it" bull...it annoys me. Put players in a position which gives them the best option to succeed, don't put players in checking roles which they won't manage.
Adding to that. They traded Jarnkrok and Janmark because they wanted to keep Sheahan. Then traded Sheahan.
And, didn't give Bedard a new contract as goalie coach because wanted to bring up goalie coach from Grand Rapids to groome Mrazek. Then traded Mrazek.
Proper role? The ****.
There is about one guy on that list that got "ruined" by misuse.
Jurco never should have been pushed towards a checking role. That's it.
Everyone else in that list sucked, was named Tomas Tatar and was only okay, or was taken in the fifth round or later where if they stick in the NHL for even 20 games they're a success.
Jarnkrok: drafted to be a top 6C. Struggled in the AHL and was traded for a need. He's still not a top 6 C. He's Nashville's appropriately paid, Swedish Darren Helm.
Janmark: 3rd round pick. Was a flyer to be successful. Gifted with top line minutes in a high scoring lineup in Dallas, got 30 points.
Pulkkinen: Garbage and out of the league.
Sheahan: Given many chances to be the top 6C he was drafted to be. Got dealt when the Wings wanted cap for AA's contract and was also dealt because he went 81 games without a goal.
Tatar: Bonafide top 6 winger, got a great return at the TDL.
Sproul: Literally couldn't play defense. Like at all. And was only okay offensively.
Smith: Given a chance to be a top 4D by Detroit ad infintum. But he had the hockey IQ of a plank of wood.
Mrazek: Was given the #1 role over Jimmy. Was given $4M as an RFA because he had taken the #1 role. Then lost it and all semblance of being an okay goalie.
The Wings picked bad players who didn't ever take a next step to become better.