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Detroit Red Wings: How to start the rebuild

By Patrick Rocca

Apr 9, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; The players skate onto the ice before the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils at Joe Louis Arena. This is the last game the Red Wings will play at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; The players skate onto the ice before the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils at Joe Louis Arena. This is the last game the Red Wings will play at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Nail Yakupov (64) is seen during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Nail Yakupov (64) is seen during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /

Develop Young Talent, Fill Holes With Cheap, Boom or Bust Players

What Holland (or his replacement) should be focusing on is developing young talent. Call up some players from the AHL and see what you’ve got. It worked for Pittsburgh with Conor Sheary and Jake Guentzel, so why can’t it work for the Wings? The old boys club needs to go. It needed to go years ago, but it is better late than never.

Free agency couldn’t be any simpler either. Fill up your holes with cheap, young players and hope you strike gold. A notable example of this would be Nail Yakupov. A 23-year old former first overall pick that can probably be signed to league minimum is exactly what this roster needs right now.

If you strike gold with him, you can flip him at the deadline for futures, or extend him as part of the core going forward. If he is still post 2013 Nail Yakupov, then once again, you are in a position for a better pick. A complete win-win for everyone.

I know some Red Wings fans will accuse me of tanking, but this is reality now. The Red Wings are going to be awful next season. So if they’re going to be awful, they may as well get younger, acquire assets, and shed some salary.

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