Detroit Red Wings

I started talking about it last year and got smashed pretty good on these boards for saying it but in my opinion the Wings are going to be in some serious trouble in the not too distant future.  I want so badly to be wrong and for Wings fans on these boards to be right but I just don't see it.   Although the Wings failures the last couple post seasons are not his fault  I'm still not convinced we have a top notch Stanley Cup capable goalie in Detroit.  And if they don't play this year Howard's contract is up, he's an UFA next summer.

The defense scares the crap out of me.  I don't trust Quincey, not one bit.  I don't like Kindl AT ALL.  I'm not sure what we have with Brendan Smith.  I thought Colaiacovo was a very good signing at a more then fair price but is he a top 4 dman?  Ericsson I was always a fan of but although he had a bit of a comeback season last year is he ever going to take the next step and become a real top 2 or 4 guy?  Also one more thing to remember about the Wings D.  As of right now the Wings only have on dman signed past the 2013-2014 season, and that's Kronwall. 

Offensively assuming this season is history Datsyuk only has 1 more year left on his deal and Filpula has nothing left after this season. They only have 5 forwards signed past the 2013-2014 season, 6 players in total not counting a bunch of kids in the minors on entry level or two day deals.  Zetterberg has many years left on his deal but is he going to be the same player 2 or 3 years from now? Highly unlikely in my opinion.  In my opinion Franzen is regressing and nowhere near the player he once was.  

I know Wings fans on these boards will for the most part completely disagree with most of what I just said but I think it's time the Wings re-tool.  Last year I suggested trading Datsyuk and people thought I was half retarded for suggesting they do that but I think the return for Datsyuk right now would still be incredible and his future performance will not improve but he will regress.  I think the return for Franzen's cap hit friendly deal would be far more then he's actually worth today on the ice.  I think Jimmy Howard a year ago would have been a very marketable player.  I think Filpulla would have been very marketable and still could be if they got back on the ice this year and traded him before he becomes an UFA.   My fear is Holland will do nothing I just suggested be done.  My fear is he'll sign all of the above players I mentioned just to stay "competitive" and pretend the Wings can contend for a cup when in reality I knew in my heart 2 years ago there wasn't another cup coming to Detroit anytime soon with the current players on the roster.

I would much rather receive full or even above value for the players I mentioned and risk ending the incredible playoff streak the Wings have going then watch these players either expire in Detroit or regress because the end result will still mean the streak ending but there will be no light at the end of the tunnel when in fact getting great value in return just might set the Wings up for many more contending years down the road.