Team: 2017-18 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 12, 2017

Published: Jul. 12, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I keep on hearing about how loaded the 2018 draft is with talent. Top end talent sounds like it should be good with Svechnikov and Dahlin, but everybody seems to think that there is a ton of depth in this draft. With that in mind, the Wings should try to get as many first and second round picks as possible, and allow for a rebuild that could be sped up if this class is as talented as everyone is claiming.

I personally think that we have about a third of the team of the future already in the lineup. Everybody else is expendable and should be used in trades (except Z).

On forward, untouchables are: Larkin, Mantha, Svechnikov. AA and Tatar are also two guys I would like to have on the team in the future, but neither is completely untouchable.

On defense, there really isn't anybody that is untouchable, but Hronek, Cholowski, Saarijarvi and Hicketts could all be a part of the d core for years to come. Jensen or Ouellet could also be a part of a second or third d pariring, but we should be open to trading them as an extra piece in the right deal.

As far as goalies are concerned, Mrazek or Howard should be moved if a deal actually comes along. Obviously it would be great for Mrazek to be goalie of the future, but that scenario is a lot less likely now than it was this time one or two years ago.

This is ideally what the team looks like 3 years from now, Z sticks around for one last run.

Wings need to miss the playoffs this year, luck out, win the lottery. Then use our other picks to move up and pick Dahlin, should make for a solid young core with goalie being (possibly) our only issue.

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