Do i have my criticism of Yzerman, yeah.
But i'm not sure i get the obsession, last year Wings were as close as you can got to play-offs. A quarter through the season and they're in a fight for the play-offs again, admittedly they're not playing great.
This is while Edvinsson and Kasper are in their rookie year. ASP, Cossa and Danielsson yet to make the team, and several decent prospects in Augustine, Wallinder, Lombardi and Mazur.
While also having a great cap outlook and draft capital remaining, so improvements can be made via trade and or free-agency.
Compare that to Ottawa who's in this spot with little to no propsect pool or cap.