The blowouts to the Senators confirmed what Yzerman thought, that the Wings aren’t ready for the next stage. But they also can’t stockpile picks endlessly, with 10 this year. I think there’s a decent chance Yzerman doesn’t end up drafting with either of the first-rounders he just acquired, instead bundling them for players. The Wings are barely half-a-dozen points out of a playoff spot but much farther behind the top teams in their division – Boston, Toronto, Tampa Bay and even Ottawa and Buffalo.

“Do I think we’re a Stanley Cup contender this year? No,” Yzerman said Friday. “Did I think we had a chance to make the playoffs? Yes. If I thought we were a Stanley Cup contender, I would not have traded our unrestricted free-agents. I say to the fan base, I understand the frustration and disappointment, I get it. If our ultimate goal is to compete with the best teams in the league, this is what I’m doing. If doesn’t work out, it’s on me, I understand that.”

Based on Yzerman’s drafting acumen and team-building prowess in Tampa, I’d still bet heavily it’ll work. Most NHL observers strongly believe it will work, and Yzerman was widely praised for fleecing Vancouver out of a top pick for Hronek, who’s having a good offensive season but was awful a year ago.

Fans can be aggravated, especially because the Wings are in the seventh year of a rebuild – the fourth under Yzerman – and traction is slow. It doesn’t help that the Tigers tried a similar path and ended up in a ditch. Scott Harris replaced Al Avila and is starting completely over, in almost every way.

more ($)