How do you improve the Wings?

[Snuggs]

I really hope we hear some background noise soon about the Red Wings. They need help on defense and could use another good forward/center.

There are essentially what? 7-9 teams that are fighting for those last playoff spots! Red Wings aren't exactly ringleaders in this circus either they need major help imo to overcome out competing these other teams. I've seen enough of Holl/Motte/Berggren and I'd be looking for upgrades through trades and I'm not saying you can dump these guys in those trades, but you wouldn't miss them if you waived them after a trade/upgrade. (Berggren likely has some good value) I just don't really like him and think he's a floater. (just me)

I think those are three possible upgrades, in-season, that could be just marginal enough to make a difference in this TIGHT-TIGHT playoff chase / race.

 

[lilidk]

Soderblom Larkin Raymond
Debrincat Kasper Kane
Berggren Danielson Watson
Rasmussen Ficsher Veleno
Chiarot Seider
Edvinsson Petry
AJo Buium
End this season with this lineup.
Meter of time Mazur , Lombardi, MBN, ASP, Finnie will join GR.

 

[SantosHalper]

Finnie will join GR.

I think he'll be traded in WHL to a contender.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I think he'll be traded in WHL to a contender.

WHL trade deadline has already passed, so he'll be joining GR and get a few games in probably around playoff time

 

[SirKillalot]

Can I ask what your definition of "elite" is? Based on my definition, I don't think a team exists with 4 elite forwards and 2 elite D-men so I image our definitions are different.

When I mean Elite I don't mean just franchise players, I mean difference makers who are among the better half of the league in their roles. Take 2016-2017. Penguins had Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Guentzel. Its hard to argue that they were not elite players in the league. They also had role players in Sheary and Hornqvist. Though their defense wasn't so top on papir, and they got the best out of what they had.

Detroit in 2007-2008
Elite in Datsyuk and Zetterberg, I'd even include Franzen as he scored 27 goals. Fantastic role players in Holmstrom, Samuelsson, Cleary, could say the same for Filppula, Draper, Hudler vs. their quality of competition.
Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall on defense, with Brad Stuart added as shut down d-man.

 

[Dotter]

Most definitely not. This way you mention you build a strong above average bubble team.


Here's how you build a contender:

Structure the Team​

• Top Six Forwards: 4 elite players, 2 solid role players.
• Top Nine Forwards: 3 solid top 9 forwards who can move up the lineup if necessary to be role players and who contribute offensively from the 3rd line position vs. other teams 2nd-3rd-4th lines or play opponents top line and not necessarily shut it down, but limit its production.
• Bottom Six Forwards/4th line: Focus on defensive reliability, penalty killing, and cheap contracts.
• Top Four Defensemen: At least two elite two-way defenseman and one reliable shutdown defenders as well as one offensive defenseman.
• Third-Pair Defensemen: Affordable, defensively solid players where if needed one play as 4th d-man if your offensive defenseman isn't as solid and need to play bottom pair + Power Play.
• Goaltending: 1 top-tier starter, 1 affordable backup.
• Minimum 8 top heavy players (4 forwards - 3 defensemen - 1 goalie) who run the team, preferably up towards 12-13 guys total who are among the upper half of the league in their roles (meaning another 3 forwards and 1 defenseman). Preferable one of the better backups for good caphit.

I consider elite line drivers. The guys that take over games. ala Larkin, Raymond.

I don't consider Debrincat or Kane elite. They are contributors.

Teams that have 4 "elite" forwards have major holes in other areas of their team. See Toronto.