Thought Provoking

Team: 2023-24 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 2, 2023

Published: Jul. 2, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

(JUST MY HOPEFUL FUTURE ROSTER AS IT IS NOW)

Larkin-Danielson-Kasper is going to be very solid (assuming the latter hit their potential). 200ft above average hard playing/skating C. Responsible, smart, hard competition. No superstars, possible year-to-year Allstars, just great. Lombardi and Doucet are the boom/bust projects that are only upside value to Detroit. There will be more as is hockey (trades/unexpected FAs). Look at who won the Cup and who lost. Vegas was just great. Top to bottom.

Copp/Ras/Compher can all be moved to wing permanently, which improves team defense while providing more depth, center injury insurance (many know the old center depth hell fire in the past). Combine that versatility with Raymond/Berggren skill guys, Soderblom's mystery box, Mazur's Bertuzzi replacement equivalency, I also think an X-factor could be Buchelnikov, but probably more my opinion than most. The wingers have balance, mix of size/speed/grit. I believe that eventually SY does pull the trigger and moves some form of assets for a stud (KFC/Nylander echelon).

I agree there is some overkill on D and too much for my personal taste, but honestly with late round picks if a player hits a player hits. Wouldn't mind if a Larry Keenan or Red Savage came out of nowhere and took a job from someone because they overachieve. Not likely, but it happens from time to time, and the law of averages says Detroit is due for some luck (injuries/lottery/etc.) at some point in time.

Look a bit further down the road...

???/Buchy - Larkin - Raymond
Rasmussen - Danielson - Mazur
Berggren - Kasper - Soda
Veleno/DJ - Lombardi/Doucet/??? - Dower-Nilsson(x2)/Hanas

Obviously not all hit and others will over perform (Niederbach? not saying him but just an example). Again, odds and law of average. FAs and other draft picks could be added as well.

Wallinder - Seider
Edvinsson - ASP
Walman/AlbertJohansson/Buium - Gibson/Tuomisto/AntonJohansson

Not worried about the defensive group as this is only 1/8 of the D in the organization lol

Cossa
Augustine

Two guys one net?

2 - 2024 1sts as chips for drafting one last time or maybe thats the time to take swings at trades and UFA market (that is better comparatively to the draft next season). One more year on core pieces to develop and 2-4 big RFA signings in the books, so future cap issues shouldn't be a problem.

The main plan of the slow build remains, but if certain offers do arise to help give a jump (Walman exceeding expectations, if somehow a Keller or Nylander offer came up that benefited long term at the cost of significant pieces for the greater good, a couple prospects go "Tage" mode, someone like Kostin or Dylan James becomes a bonafide piece, etc.) then the plan alters.

-Main Point-
- Depends on what type of fan you are. Instant gratification is the goa on CFl, as daily opinions change on this site (Larkin being traded for a cap dump and late 1st to Larkin being traded for a top 10 pick and D prospect as an example). Personally, only Pitt has won more Cups in my lifetime, and that is good enough for me. If the Wings can turn into Carolina/TB/Boston/COL and snag a few more rings while being a threat every year (or possibly start a new STREAK) while I am kicking, I don't see how they aren't the most successful team I've watched in the NHL. As a fan, couldn't be mad at that even living through two decades of ****E (dead wings first... now the going on 8 years strong Holland nuke SY rebuild).

Perspective! Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.