The Detroit Red Wings are facing a serious problem at the worst possible time of the season. With March being an important month for the team to cement their spot in the playoffs, injuries have hit, and their inaction at the trade deadline appears to be coming back to haunt them. Did Steve Yzerman‘s choice to pass on adding a center create a real issue?
Captain Dylan Larkin and veteran center Andrew Copp are both sidelined for at least two weeks with lower-body injuries, coach Todd McLellan confirmed Thursday. Both will be reassessed after that timeframe, but it might be too little, too late.
With the regular season winding down, Detroit’s center depth is suddenly lacking as J.T. Compher, Marco Kasper, Michael Rasmussen (now also out a week with his own injury), and Sheldon Dries are left to shoulder the load.
Did Not Acquiring a Center Seal the Red Wings’ Fate?
If the Red Wings failed to keep pace in March for the third straight year, there could be changes. Given that multiple sources, including Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, had the Red Wings as a potential suitor for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas, one has to wonder why Yzerman chose not to push harder.
LeBrun wrote:
“Thomas has five more years on his contract at an $8.125 million cap hit, which is very attractive to suitors… Do the Detroit Red Wings feel they need to take a run at Thomas, depending on how the playoffs go? The Montreal Canadiens? Boston Bruins? Los Angeles Kings?”
Again, not only did Detroit not push at the deadline, but if they circle back and want to revisit the idea of Thomas over the summer, they’ll be competing with several teams.
Mike Rupp of the DFO Rundown said:
“…after the deadline came and went, I still thought, man, they should have done something at center ice. That was the one thing. I understand the market was very pricey for a lot of reasons, and I’m not in their shoes making those decisions. I don’t know what the ask was. But this just makes it even more of a topic of conversation, because now if you have any injury at center ice, you’re depleted at probably one of the most important positions in hockey.”
He added, “So, healthy or not, I thought they should have gotten another centerman. Now you lose your top two, and you’ve got to win some games right now. I mean, it’s getting a little nerve-racking in Detroit.”
What Happens if The Red Wings Miss the Playoffs?
Steve Yzerman’s patient rebuild finally looks like it’s on the verge of breaking through. He added Justin Faulk and David Perron at the deadline, but is it enough? Right now, with the injuries, it’s a maybe.
Another playoff miss would ignite louder debate about how much more time the Yzerplan should be allowed to continue.
Next: Insider Reveals Canadiens “Bigger” Deadline Wasn’t Actually Matthew Knies
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