From The Silky Mitten State: Detroit's quiet deadline should be a reminder of long-term plans during current troubles

As the trade deadline rolled around, the Red Wings had lost three straight games.  During the second of those losses, captain Dylan Larkin was injured.  After the deadline (at which Detroit made just one trade), the Red Wings have gone on to lose five of their next seven games.

When you put all that together, it's an easy time to be negative about Detroit's present and future, but in fact, that quiet deadline ought to be a reminder of the time frame on the team's vision for Cup contention.

On the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State, Connor Earegood and I discussed this dynamic.  Heading into the deadline, we'd both advocated a patient approach for the Red Wings—arguing that it didn't make sense to go 'all in' on trading futures (i.e. picks and prospects) for players who wouldn't help the team beyond this season.  That's what Detroit decided to do, making only one trade around the margins of its roster while also touting the potential of internal, up-and-coming depth options like Simon Edvinsson and Jonatan Berggren (both of whom have since been called up from Grand Rapids).

With the Red Wings still struggling and Larkin as of yet to return to game action, it's worth remembering that this year was never expected to be a serious opportunity for a run at the Stanley Cup.  Of course, the playoffs would be an excellent marker that the 'Yzer-plan' is moving in the right direction, but that doesn't change the fact that Detroit's true contention window has not yet opened.

For a sample of that conversation, check out the view below:

For full episodes of The Silky Mitten State, go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify:

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