I’ll admit that my plan for offseason content has been a little bit skewed. If you asked me a few months ago, I thought I would have been recapping Detroit’s postseason and all the positives that had done for the franchise. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case yet again, and I’m not going to sell out to make pointless trade proposals, at least not yet.
So instead, I wanted to continue my early offseason content by taking a look at some of the things that readers and Red Wings fans wanted to hear about. Through a mix of comments on articles, Reddit replies, and podcast questions, I’ve decided to make my first mailbag article, which I’m really excited about.
I do want to take a brief moment to thank you, the reader, and anyone who has consistently interacted with my content over the past ten months. It’s made being a Red Wings content creator very special to me, and I couldn’t do it without each of you, so again, thank you.
That being said, let’s get started with the questions.
Realistic Landing Spots for Connor McDavid and Sebastian Cossa
Oilers forward Connor McDavid | Photo: Getty Images
“What’s your take on a realistic McDavid landing spot should he force his way out? I gotta imagine it would have to be to a contender with a solid d-corps and established goaltender. Similarly, if the Wings actually dealt Cossa…where do you see him landing”. – Bobby_Orrs_Knees
I’d imagine this is coming from the mind that McDavid would have some interest in Detroit, which I don’t think would be too far-fetched. With the emergence of Moritz Seider and a solid supporting cast being built, I think the Red Wings are a sexier option than the Oilers long-term. But McDavid isn’t choosing between Edmonton and Detroit; he’s choosing between Edmonton and the rest of the NHL.
As of right now, I think the landing spot that makes the most sense in the Montreal Canadiens. They’re already flirting with the conference finals, and their fantastic core is all signed to fantastic value contracts. Their biggest need is one more elite center, and McDavid could be all that and more. McDavid gets the money, the supporting cast, and the chance to bring a cup back to Canada. All of those are things that I think could sell him on Montreal.
After that, the next closest team is probably Carolina. They have a deep squad that lacks a true offensive superstar, and McDavid would be the exact kind of player they need. Obviously, McDavid moves the needle anywhere he goes, but I think Carolina immediately becomes the Cup favorite for years to come with McDavid at the helm. Carolina already plays a style that relies on speed and puck possession, and those are both essentially McDavid’s specialties.
As for Cossa, I think he ends up on the receiving end of whatever team Detroit makes a top-six forward trade with. It’s no surprise that Detroit should be big-game hunting this offseason, and the need for an injection of talent is greatest in the top six. Detroit doesn’t have too many valuable assets to part ways with, but a premier goalie prospect is one that might just get it done. If you want a bit of an exciting answer to think about, though, New Jersey would certainly benefit from an upgrade in their goaltending future.
Should Detroit Enter Another Rebuild?
Red Wings goaltender John Gibson | AP Photo/Ryan Sun
“If Detroit misses the playoff again next season should they look to enter another rebuild? It’s a huge sellers market right now and players like Larkin and DeBrincat would get huge hauls in return. The Atlantic Division is so stacked right now and Detroit lacks the star talent or game breaking prospects to be a consistent threat in the division. Does going for another rebuild make the most sense long-term?” – Spider-Man 1000
The unfortunate truth is that there is some truth to what you’re saying. With the Maple Leafs grabbing the number one pick, it seems every team in the Atlantic is going to be pushing to make the playoffs next season. While nobody is a shoo-in, it certainly feels as though Detroit is one of the lesser threats at cracking the postseason.
The good news is that I don’t think another rebuild is on the horizon. I think it will take some serious commitment to this current roster, but I do believe Detroit could begin making a serious playoff push if it can add a legitimate top-six forward.
I’m a firm believer in this defense group long-term. I think that Seider, Edvinsson, and Sandin-Pellikka will be able to hold down the blue line for years to come. I also believe that if Detroit can add another top-six forward (Nico Hischier, Robert Thomas, Jason Robertson, etc.) and get one more leap from Lucas Raymond, they can become serious contenders in the East.
I do think Detroit needs to abandon the future a bit though. As much as Max Plante and Trey Augustine excite me, the window seems to be during the next 5-6 years, and unfortunately, those guys don’t seem like they will be a big part of the team by then. Shipping out key prospects to bring in big names, even if it burns Detroit in the long-term, is probably the best course of action for this management group.
Was Seider Snubbed From the Norris?
Mo Seider for the Detroit Red Wings | Nic Antaya/Getty Images
“Seider had one of the most underrated seasons in the NHL by a wide margin. Most advanced stats saw [Seider] as one of the best players in the league, not just a defenceman. With the Norris finalists coming out and Seider not being one of them, it’s hard for me to think Seider wasn’t robbed. – David C
Moritz Seider was undeniably one of the best players in the NHL this year and certainly one of the most valuable to his team. I also firmly believe that the gap defensively between Seider and the next best defensive player is further than any offensive gap between defensemen in the NHL. That being said, this doesn’t really surprise me.
As much as Seider dominated advanced metrics, so did Cale Makar and Zach Werenski. Both of them had pretty ludicrous point totals while being elite defensively as well. Cale Makar is pretty much always going to be amongst the top of these ballots; he’s the McDavid of defensemen at this point. Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes are never too far away, though, and both of them are also staples at the top of the ballot due to their sheer production.
I think Seider is in the tier below those guys. Certainly on par with Rasmus Dahlin, the third finalist. Total votes haven’t come out yet, but once they do, I think we’ll have a better idea of whether this truly was a snub or not. If Seider finishes top 6 (which I think he will), I think it’s a fair placement in a really good year for defensemen. But if he’s closer to the 8-10 range, I’m on board with the snub conversations being had.
More to Read
Alex DeBrincat for the Detroit Red Wings | AP Photo/Paul Sancya
I do check each comment in the box below, so if you have any more questions or even takes on the ones presented here, feel free to drop them in the box below.
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