Detroit Red Wings 2013 Stanley Cup Champions: Part 1

The Detroit Red Wings are your 2013 Stanley Cup Champions! A phrase which inspires dreams of drinking from the most hallowed and cherished trophy in all of sports and recalls visions of glory in years not long since past. Unfortunately the current reality more closely resembles the captioned photo above. 

Last season the Wings were easily handled by the Nashville Predators in the first round. For the second time in two years they dropped a spot in the playoff seedings in the final week of the regular season and in the end it cost them, again. 

From the optimistic point of view the Wings have made the playoffs 21 years in a row. They are widely regarded as one of the model franchises in all of sports.  "Hockeytown" still applies. The Red Wings have over $24 million in cap space. Not to mention Detroit is still a prime location for free agents.

In order for the article's title to match reality the Wings must improve in three critical areas: speed, physicality and "one-on-one". The Wings brass will need to first decide who to let go, then who to keep then which forwards and which defensemen can help them in free agency. 

Part 1 will focus on which current Wings should don the Wheel no more.

Tomas Holmstrom

The picture shows with perfect expression how Tomas Holmstrom made his living in the NHL. 

He was a huge part of the Wings success over the past decade. Tomas was slow, a terrible skater, couldn't handle the puck or pass and was never very good on defense. Now the years have taken what little skill and speed he had from him.

He was, however, one of the best of all time at positioning himself in front of goaltenders (usually on the power play) and using his two best assets—his hand eye coordination and his toughness—to tip in goals or screen goalies so that another Wing could score.  In his prime he was also a grade-A pest, a valuable role which he hasn't filled effectively in a few years and the Wings have sorely lacked since Tomas last lived up to the title.

We thank you for your service and all of the bruises and abuses caused by rabbit punches, cross checks, goal sticks to the ankle and just plain beat-downs that you took for the cause. But as a part-time fourth-liner it's time for you to go the way of the Maltby's and Draper's. You will forever be an honored Detroit Red Wing. 

Jiri Hudler

Your Honor, the prosecution presents this photo as Exhibit A, which conclusively proves that the aforementioned Jiri Hudler's idea of defense is waving a stick at a nearby player with the puck. We can also submit for consideration Exhibits B, C, D, E, etc. if necessary.

Hudler's offensive numbers last season were respectable though his point total was 16 points lower than his next closest linemate.  If the three criteria (speed, physicality and one on one) which I presented earlier in this article are areas in which the Wings must show improvement to re-hoist the Stanley Cup,  letting Hudler go is addition by subtraction. 

Hudler is symptomatic of the Wings' ills. The cure? Let him go and suck $3 (or so I'm told $4) million out of another franchise for a slow, weak, soft, player who doesn't believe in defense but has good hands.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out like it should have when you bolted for the KHL and left the Wings holding the bag.

Kyle Quincey

There are two reasons for suggesting that Kyle Qunicey go and neither of them have to do with him not being a good player.

Kyle Quincey is a young player (he turns 27 in August) in his prime. He has good offensive skills and is a solid all-around player.  His skills are those of a top-four defenseman. His numbers support that as well. He has over 25 points each season since 2008-2009, with the exception of 2010-2011 when he was injured most of the year. 

All of this means one thing: he has good trade value. He was acquired for a first-round pick by a very astute GM in Kenny Holland even though it was known that he was going to be a RFA at the end of the season. 

If you still doubt, remember that Paul Gaustad was traded to Nashville for a first round pick in the same season knowing he would be an UFA at seasons end. You never know when the Wings may develop an strong interest in a player like Bobby Ryan. In that case Holland will need some ammo to make that big deal that will put the Wings over the top.

Another point is that the Wings need to get Brendan Smith on the ice as one of the top-six defensemen.  Assuming that they sign a top-four free agent defenseman, *cough* Ryan Suter *cough*, that means Smith and Kindl are duking it out for sixth. If Quincey was traded Smith would be sixth. Quincey is loads better than Kindl at this point, and therefore worth much more in trade.

My feelings wouldn't be hurt if the Wings ink Quincey to that Red Wingish four-year $12.5 million deal, as long as Smith gets the ice time he needs to blossom into the top-flight defensemen he is destined to be. 

Cory Emmerton

This one may be a bit of a surprise. Cory Emmerton? He's under contract for another two seasons, he makes less than 600k and he's only a fourth-line center. In response to that I have two words: Kris Draper. 

We in Detroit have been spoiled for a long, long time. We need a fourth-line center who is going to be an annoyance, a menace and will put the "Grrrrrr" back in the Grind Line. Sorry, Cory but you are about as menacing as a glass of lukewarm milk and a slice of cold toast. 

The best thing that can be said about Cory is that he is not horrible. He doesn't stand out, he doesn't strike fear into opponents and he isn't tough to play against. Time to upgrade.

The Wings have Joakim Andersson (already in the organization) who is younger, bigger, faster, grittier, nastier and whose best role in his future with the Wings doesn't go past fourth-line center. Maybe he will show some hunger and fire that the Wings so desperately need, and that Cory Emmerton just doesn't have.

Let him go. Use him as a trade throw in. Send him back down and risk waivers. It doesn't matter, the Wings can do better.