Red Wings: Roster Juggling Continues as Winless Streak Reaches Ten
By Bob Heyrman
As the winless streak strikes 10, it’s no secret the Detroit Red Wings are in the midst of what looks to be a lengthy rebuild, and GM Steve Yzerman is just searching for any player, at any position that flashes any type of potential.
Steve Yzerman is just starting to overhaul the wretched Detroit Red Wings roster he inherited from long-time general manager Ken Holland. Yzerman made what looks to be a couple of significant trades already this season, landing the franchise a couple of former first-round picks in Robby Fabbri along with Brendan Perlini.
Perlini seems to have all the tools, but like any inexperienced regular joe, he’s misplaced the instructions to use said tools. Perlini joined the Red Wings after having some success at the NHL level with the Chicago Blackhawks but failed to find a role this year in the windy city. Hawks GM Stan Bowman made a promise to Brendan that if the team struggled to find a spot for him, they’d accommodate him by finding a trade partner for his services.
Steve Yzerman shipped defenseman Alec Regula, a young defenseman with plenty of promise, but Detroit has already decided to move on from his services. Perlini had been the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Coyotes. Although he’s failed to score for Detroit in his first 17 contests, he’s notched 45 goals and added 23 helpers throughout his young career in 216 games. Steve Yzerman is taking a flier on the 23-year old hoping he catches fire.
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The Red Wings also added another former first-round selection in forward Robby Fabbri, who has settled in as a top-six forward with the team. The Wings traded checking, fourth-line center Jacob de La Rose, whom they claimed off of waivers last season from the Montreal Canadiens for nothing. Yzerman turned that into a potential 20-goal scorer in Fabbri.
Since joining the Red Wings, Fabbri has recorded 5 goals, 5 assists good for 10 points in just 13 games. He’s one of the bright spots on a roster filled with disappointment. The Wings have also recently added goaltender Eric Comrie from Arizona since neither Jimmy Howard or Jonathan Bernier have found any type of consistency in 2019.
Jimmy Howard is also currently banged up, so Comrie should see some work early on, and if he performs well, he could eventually see as much playing time as he can handle.
Yzerman’s roster overhaul continues as the team announced yesterday that struggling forwards Filip Zadina and Taro Hirose were both being sent back to Grand Rapids. Although Zadina is just 19-years old, doubt is starting to creep in as he’s failed to produce with any consistency at the NHL level during both of his stints this year and last.
The Detroit Red Wings are winless in their last ten contests. Their overall record is 7-20-3, good for last in the NHL. Steve Yzerman understands he needs to be patient, but he will also continue to juggle his roster, hoping to find players that flash potential.
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Perhaps Dan Bylsma is close to being promoted? I wouldn’t surprise me if he were the Wings head coach as the calendar turns to 2020.