Youth & Consequences: Holland's Lack of Faith in Young Wings Proves Costly

For the past two decades, the Detroit Red Wings have been the class of the National Hockey League (NHL). The organization has been able to build a foundation of winning thru shrewd roster moves and an owner willing to spend the dollars on talent. However, the last few years have shed light on cracks that threaten to topple this great franchise.

The biggest crack in the foundation, and one that has the potential to cause the most damage, is the overreliance on veterans over young players.

The Red Wings have been firm in their belief that experience is a trump card, especially when it comes playoff time. Currently, the Wings have the 3^rd oldest team in the league behind only Florida and New Jersey. In fact, the addition of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss this past year, raised the average age of the team, even as the league as a whole is trending younger.

Across the NHL, there is a wave of exciting young players that are making a profound impact on their respective teams. Whether it is Nathan Mackinnon in Colorado, Seth Jones in Nashville, Tomas Hertl in San Jose or less-heralded, but equally productive players such as Tampa Bay’s Tyler Johnson or Valeri Nichushkin in Dallas, youth is quite empathically being served.

Did you notice any Red Wings on that list?

How about top 15 in rookie scoring? Top 25? Nope. The highest ranked Red Wing in rookie scoring is Danny Dekeyser, who is ranked 27^th.

One may see this as an indictment on the young talent the Red Wings have in their system.

One would be wrong, because, according to hockeysfuture.com, Detroit has the 9^th best pool of talent in the NHL.

The true condemnation should be directed at General Manager Ken Holland and the importance placed on over-ripening prospects in the system. Players like Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar should have been in the starting lineup for the Wings last year. Tatar ended up being the AHL Calder Cup Playoff MVP, and after spot starts with the big team throughout the year, Nyquist played an integral part of the best line Detroit had in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (with Center Joakim Andersson and Winger Damien Brunner).

So, after successful 2012-13 campaigns you would think that these two would be penciled in to the starting lineup for this season, right?

Wrong.

Tatar was relegated to the bench, and Nyquist had to start the season in Grand Rapids.

In their place, Detroit signed Dan Cleary, Alfredsson, and Weiss. None of which addressed the team’s glaring lack of speed. Sure, there are strengths that each player projected to provide. But, instead of giving opportunities to young players that proved they could succeed in the NHL, Holland decided to stick with the veterans. The move has come back to haunt the Wings.

Although, Alfredsson has been better than advertised, the Cleary and Weiss signings have been massive failures. They have combined to tally just 10 points in 61 combined games. Not to mention the injury issue that seems to linger with Weiss. And as a whole, the team has had struggles in the scoring department. These two are not helping the cause.

Detroit is mired in mediocrity and instead of battling for upper-echelon seeds in the East the Wings are straining to hold onto the 8^th position.

The new blood of Tatar and Nyquist has 21 points in just over 40 combined appearances. Good for a point every other game. Solid contributions that have come when the Wings desperately need it.

Both players have taken the opportunities presented to them for various reasons, and have risen to the occasion. Nyquist scored 2 goals on his first game this season after being called up from the minors, and Tatar has been a steady hand on the powerplay and is second on the team in game-winning goals.

Viewers can see the impact the two players have had on the ice. You notice Tatar and Nyquist are on the ice. On the other hand, the veterans are in the background. Part of the scenery at Joe Louis. Taking up space at best, costing the Wings a playoff spot at worst.

The Red Wings have a slew of NHL-ready prospects that can produce today. Have you marveled at Tomas Jurco, yet? What about defensemen Adam Almquist and Xavier Ouellet? These three players that when given the chance, has showed their worth with Detroit. I’d much rather have Jurco than Mikael Samuelsson and anyone over Kyle Quincey.

Ken Holland has hamstrung this team not only this year, but has stunted the growth of our next generation of stars. Instead of having faith in his young players, Holland went to the veteran player well once again. This time, it may leave Detroit high, dry and out of the playoffs.