Detroit Red Wings Need to Make a Big Splash this Off Season

Mar 22, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Detroit Red Wings wins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Red Wings continued their streak of making the playoffs for a 23rd consecutive year, which is great however they lost to the Boston Bruins in 5 games in the first round of the playoffs.  They need to make some major moves this off season to get stronger and bigger because the Bruins pushed them around in the playoffs.  The kids made great strides this season because of all the injuries however none of them are that big and strong guy you need to win in the Eastern Conference.

I have always been infatuated with Alex Ovechkin who is one of the best scorers in the NHL.  I believe if you combined him with Pavel Datsyuk they would combine to each have over 100 points per year and it would not matter who you teamed them with, they would be the most dangerous center/forward combo in the NHL.  This is the kind of big splash the Red Wings have not made in a while and will need to get back in the Stanley Cup hunt.

The Detroit Red Wings also need to bolster their defense they have a solid first 4 but after that they drop off significantly.  While the League has followed Ken Holland’s strategy of signing players to long term deals that lessen the hit on the cap, it has made his job harder because less players are available to sign.  The ones who are usually available are older or young kids who have not made an impact yet.  Ken Holland is definitely gonna be earning his pay check over the next couple of months because the alternative is to not make the playoffs the next couple of years and get high draft picks.

Jimmy Howard has proven that he is not an elite goalie but needs help on the back end.  He was out played by Jonas Gustavson this year and while Goaltender is not their biggest need if they improve the defense it will improve the Goaltending.  I was 13 the last time the Detroit Red Wings did not make the playoffs, every Detroit Red Wing fan wants that to continue they need to make some big moves to make that happen.  I believe in Ken Holland and think he will make a huge splash this off season and get the Red Wings back to where they belong.