I think by fix it the most actually think, getting into playoffs. But if we are trying to fix something, we need understand what was broken before start throwing random names. But I agree bitching about 2nd round picks is a fun alternative.
I think three most popular reasons for Red Wings missing playoffs are:
- Team defense
- Goaltending
- Inability to survive without Larkin
Goaltending is difficult to me to separate from team defense, especially with Husso he was basically thrown to wolfes in the beginging of the season. Lyon did actually quite a good job at holding the fort with starting goalie out, but he was not supposed to be the answer, he even almost managed to save the season. Reimer sucked and hopefully he is not back. My approach to goaltending would be not to do anything with it, which might be not the most popular. I think fixing defense will actually help to improve goaltending situation as much less pressure will be put on it. The ultimative answer is supposed to be Cossa, who is a year or two away now, from that perspective we don't need an expensive solution which will be difficult to deal with down the road. One caveat is Husso's health, we need to do something if he is not able to recover.
Defense issue has several layers to it - one is general roster compilation approach - Yzerman tried to "outdepth" other team having the likes of Sprong and Fabbri to feast on oppponent's weak lines. In return it meant that Red Wings sacrificed defense for that having more offensive minded players all over roster. The other issue is a lack of speed - which combined with very attacking approach lead to easy opportunities from the rush. The solution here is to have different depth players to compliment extended core.
Surviving without Larkin is a difficult task. I think it is also caused by a strategy to "outdepth" other teams. Without Larkin that approach was not working anymore, as everybody slotted a notch above, with players like Sprong, Veleno or Fabbri being exposed, especially defensively. Usually you win in absence of the most talanted players by grinding out the wins, but this roster was not compiled with an idea of grinding something out. Additionally, Larkin was one of the best or maybe even the best defensive forward with not many of them on the roster, so the defensive issues were significantly magnified by it. There are three possible solutions: add center depth, add "Larkin-like" depth regardless of position, construct the roster in way to grind out wins. I don't think adding a center is feasible - Lindholm is going to be expensive and there is not much behind him (that's why wet dreams of some posters of Copp's buyout are just that). I'm not sure if Red Wings actually can afford Guentzel or Reinhart level of player. So i think the best way is to align solution with defense solution.
Roster:
- do not resign any of Gost, Sprong, Reimer, Kane
- get rid of two out of Chiarot (yes, i think he is a part of the problem more than a part of the solution, maybe after a relatively ok season there might be some taker), Maatta, Petry, Holl. Maybe three. Petry might be open to LTIRerment. Holl buyout is also an option, but only if we there is no other solution in sight
- get rid of Fabbri - i think he just not fit into more defense-oriented roster and he cannot score while playing on top lines.
- split Raymond and Larkin in order to generate more offense
- re-sign Raymond and Seider at around 16 mil combined, Veleno and Berggren at low 1mil, AlJo at minimum. Re-sign Fischer at similar rate as for this year.
This leaves us with:
DeBrincat-Larkin-X1
X2-Compher-Raymond
Rasmussen-Copp-Berggren
Fischer-Kasper-Veleno
Edvinsson-X3
Chiarot/Maatta-AlJo
Petry/Holl
Husso/Lyon (with Cossa as Nr.3)
X1: Somebody who can keep up with Larkin and score some goals while playing defense on a certain budget. DeBrusk would a good fit, he is young enough to sign 2x5 somewhere he gets an opportunity to shine and sign a big contract after that. Alterantively, Teravainen would be also a fit to a degree, but he will look for term, is permanently injured and quite slow. Marchessault is good defensively, but also slow and old - might come on limited term. Arvidsson is not good defensively, and i think has a reputation of being somewhat lazy.
X2: Some middle of line up who is not fully inept offensively, but can provide defense and support Raymond. It get's more difficult. Foegele seems like a fit, good skater, is not a black hole offensively or defensively. He always slide to a third line if Kasper or Berggren. Alternatives: Martinook - older and more limited offensively, Stephenson - too expensive.
X3: A good skating D, who can defend in transition. Matt Roy seems like a good fit, but might be rather expensive, Sean Walker seems to be more offense oriented, but fits the bill skating- and derfense-wise. Chatfield is an interesting option, but he had the easiest minutes so his results might be driven teammate and opposition quality.
Result:
DeBrincat-Larkin-DeBrusk
Foegele-Compher-Raymond
Rasmussen-Copp-Berggren
Fischer-Kasper-Veleno
Walman-Seider
Edvinsson-Walker
Chiarot-AlJo
Petry
Have at it
