There's a good chance Detroit looks pretty good in January.
I can see them going 5-2-4
Detroit would have 51 points in 49 games and still be reasonably close to the playoffs.
What scares me is that if Blashill smartens up even just a little (Detroit is 4-0-1 when Athanasiou plays 18 minutes, for example), this team might stick around long enough to make Holland go for the playoffs.
I don't think we have to worry about that possibility. I mean, there's been years where they were in a playoff spot when Holland still stayed put at the deadline.
To his credit, Holland is not the greatest GM, but to bolster your roster at the deadline when you aren't even in a playoff spot is like a Florida Panthers move. That's way worse than what Holland is capable of. In fact, Holland even suckered Florida into one of those deals last deadline, just like taking candy from a baby.
The trial period is now over for the '17-'18 Wings. They ended it on a good note, but it's an example of
too little, too late. Moreover, we've seen them put impressive streaks together this season, but they still ultimately failed to make the grade.
Anyway, the fact that anyone was even looking at the Wings as if to try to decide what to do at the deadline was a polite gesture, but it was also systematic and superficial. There is no way anyone was ever really considering not trying to trade away Green for picks at the deadline. That hasn't changed just because they managed to put two wins together.