The clock is ticking for GM Steve Yzerman to snap the Red Wings' nine-year playoff drought. Detroit's first-round drafting has been excellent, but Yzerman's front office has made several blunders in free agency that have hindered the franchise's progress. Armed with over $20 million of cap flexibility again this summer - and with Yzerman sounding open to taking bold swings - the Red Wings must hit on their signings and trades to become a playoff-caliber team.
Bolstering the top-four defense, which falls off a cliff after
Moritz Seider and
Simon Edvinsson, is a critical need. Bringing in another top-six winger to upgrade the team's five-on-five scoring, which ranked 30th in the NHL this season, is essential, too.-Bultman stated