Detroit Red Wings Must Start Long Overdue Rebuild

The Detroit Red Wings are the team of the past, with aging stars and a dwelled-in past. But their future can also be bright if the Red Wings start looking toward it.

The Detroit Red Wings are a team on the decline, one that they don’t want to face. Credit them for going so long without needing a rebuild. However, they’re living with remnants of a successful past, including Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall. The Red Wings need to march towards the future, though. This is something they can’t do while holding onto their aging stars.

It might be painful to accept, but the Red Wings needs to start a true rebuild. They have a young core who could push them back into the playoffs, but they’re dragged down. The team needs to get younger. An ideal time for that is at the NHL trade deadline, which is rapidly approaching.

Sell

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There are four players on the Detroit Red Wings roster who could net the Red Wings something positive in return and allow Detroit to get younger. That list includes Zetterberg, Kronwall, Mike Green, and Petr Mrazek.

Mrazek is pretty young at just 25, with most of his career ahead of him. But a lot has been made of the goaltender being left exposed in the expansion draft. Also, there’s been talk that he’s not happy in Detroit. And Mrazek’s recent play hasn’t been good at all.

Since he’s stuck behind Jimmy Howard, while making what should be starting money, it makes sense that’ he’s upset. Plus, there are teams already interested in Mrazek. Many teams could use goaltending help.

Then there are the elder defensemen. Green remains a productive offensive force and very capable power-play quarterback. However, he coughs the puck up too much, and he starts 56% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Still, there’s a lot of demand for the puck-moving, offensive-minded player Green represents, especially one who can find success on the power play. However, he has a full no-trade clause, which limits his market.

Kronwall is 36 and signed for another year. He’s making $4.75 million a year and has a limited no-trade clause. Kronwall’s points and minutes have both fallen off.

He’s taking 71 percent of his even-strength shifts in the offensive zone, a career high. Kronwall’s also not playing on the penalty kill anymore. But his name recognition and leadership could be useful for a young team. And Kronwall likely has enough left in the tank to be a contributor.

Zetterberg has scored 24 points as of Dec. 27. He’s signed for another three seasons past this one and he’s the captain of the Red Wings. Zetterberg is still a productive player who can do a lot of things, but he’s 37 years old.

His six million dollars on the cap can be put somewhere else, and without so much as a no-trade clause in his contract, Zetterberg can be sent to the highest bidder. And who doesn’t want leadership that’s locked up long-term?

Receive

The biggest return might be for Mrazek. A young goaltender making a bit of money who will be a restricted free agent. A team can sign him for less, or they can invest in somebody they see as a long-term goaltender. That return could be as much as a first-round pick and a mid-tier prospect. But Mrazek’s stats leave a bit to be desired and may not help with the return.

Which may mean that the return for Zetterberg, with a higher floor but a lower ceiling, might be better than Mrazek. Yes, he’s expensive, yes, he’s long-term, yes, he’s aging, but he’s still a fully capable player who brings a lot to the table. Nobody minds a player who can add two assists in less than 18 minutes of ice time, as Zetterberg did against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Detroit Red Wings should be able to get fair compensation in return for their captain.

Green and Kronwall should fetch decent returns. Kronwall will be between a fourth- and a second-round pick. Green could fetch multiple pieces, including a second and a prospect (and perhaps a conditional late-round pick). There’s still a lot more to like about Green, which is why he’ll get a fairly high return. Not Kevin Shattenkirk high, but since Green approaches that level, he’ll approach that return.

Build

After trading these pieces, the Detroit Red Wings will need to rebuild. Their leadership core and the remnants of their championship teams will be gone. It will be time to build around players for the future. Forwards like Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha who are already leading this team.

The Red Wings also have prospects like Filip Hronek, Michael Rasmussen, and Joe Hicketts. That’s not a great group, but it does represent some talent who can help the Red Wings transition into a more youth-oriented stage.

As would the multiple prospects and multiple draft picks acquired in return for the aging stars. The Detroit Red Wings also have eight picks in this year’s draft, including five in the first three rounds, and have all their picks in next year’s draft.

Next: Red Wings Bold Predictions

There should be a lot of hope moving forward, even if the past is left behind. If they rebuild correctly, the Red Wings have a bright future. It’s finally time to start taking steps toward it.

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