The draft is a LOT more difficult for draftees now than it was when he was drafted
In 1983, you didn't see your scouting reports and highlight videos blasted all over social, broadcast, and print media. Draft boards weren't really a thing, and the amount of fanfare that happens at the draft now is way beyond anything you had happen prior. He said prior to the draft, Jimmy Devellano came up to him and said he was rated #4 on their draft list, and when pick #4 came, they picked him. It took 10 minutes from the start of the draft to his name being called. He got up took a picture, and then they went off to finish the draft.
Noted the pressure was a lot less, and the expectations were a lot lower. Says kids now have a LOT of pressure put on them. Noted that most people when he was drafted most people probably couldn't spell his name if they heard it, or pronounce it if they read it. Now you know everything about these guys.
This team needs to be built through the draft.
Mentioned the 10 picks we have in this draft, and that his approach will be "best prospect available" for most of their picks. Noted that aside from maybe the top 2 picks, these guys likely won't see NHL ice time this year. Noting that most prospects take 4-5 years of development to turn into "players".
He doesn't have a specific ratio of positions he's going to try and fill, but noted that he probably won't pick 10 goalies.
With soon to be 32 teams, "Team changing" Free-Agents don't come up often, and when they do, they're going to be expensive. Especially with the extra year being available on a contract for a player sticking with his current team. With the salary cap especially, players are more willing to stay in Canada, than come to the big money US based teams. The salary cap puts all teams on an even footing.
Was asked about his time keeping high value FA's in Tampa, and mentioned that they were players that bought in to what they were doing, and were willing to stick with the team in order to keep the momentum going.
Development camp that starts in a couple weeks is more of an educational "this is how we do things in the Red Wings Organization" than a strength and conditioning camp. This is the camp Danny Cleary runs.
He Believes we have the start of a team "nucleus"
The team has a lot of young talent that took a step forward this year. Specifically mentioned Larkin transitioning from a "good young player" to a "leader" and "one of the better players in the League". Also mentioned Athanasiou, Mantha, Bertuzzi, and Hronek as guys that took a step forward. Says he has high hopes for Cholowski, Rasmussen, and Zadina, specifically. Didn't mention Veleno, but I didn't read into that.
Says he doesn't think we've formed a "Team Nucleus" yet, but there's no set number of guys you need to form one. One of those "you know you have one when you have one" type things.
He's talked to a few of the guys, but not everyone. Mostly guys that have been in and out of the building, and a few of the vets on the phone or through texts.
We're not getting the band back together
Aside from the former players that are working with the organization, he doesn't really keep in constant contact with most of the alumni. He won't hire former players just because they played together. They have to have a hockey mind, and be willing to work. Still talks to Shanahan occasionally to pick his brain. It also seems like he's trying to separate his time here as a player, from his time here now as a GM. Doesn't want to be seen as a "savior", as he thinks the team is already on the right track, and that Kenny left him in a good spot.
There's no timeline on the rebuild
Reiterated that it can take 4-5 years to develop a player, and joked that it took him 14 years to win a cup as a player. He's trying to keep everyone from getting their expectations up, too early.
He talked about how his desire to come back here was predicated on his desire to live back up here with his family. Said it's already a job that keeps you on the road most of the year. His job in Tampa, the farm team in Syracuse, and his family in Detroit; plus scouting trips around NA and to Europe left him too much time away from his wife and girls. Said even if he wasn't offered the GM position with the Wings, he wasn't going to remain the GM of Tampa.
