The Detroit Red Wings roster is compiled for the next generation. It is gerared towards speed, strength, and youth. However, the best rosters in the league are built on balance. Finding the correct balance of veteran leadership and experience and the youth and speed it takes to hang with the top teams in the league.
For the past couple years they had Staal, DeKeyer on defense along with Nick Leddy before they traded him away. On the forward lines they had Gagner, Bertuzzi, Larkin, and traded for Sundqvist who brings experience and high IQ play. But, those veteran names could be better.
There are a lot of very talented players on the roster, but there are not many veterans who bring fear to the other team. Furthermore, there are not many veterans who I get excited about seeing in the lineup on a game-to-game basis. That has to change.
In order to win this season, they will have to attack free agency with some aggressiveness. With many veteran players currently destined to be free agents, there will be an inevitable shake up coming. The question isn’t if it will happen, it’s when it will happen.
Here are five bold predictions for this off-season;