from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,
What Steve Yzerman needs more than anything else right now is time.
Time to stockpile future assets for the Detroit Red Wings. Time to watch that next crop of young players grow, develop and thrive.
Yzerman has only just started dipping his toes into remaking the organization during his first season on the job — bringing in young forwards Robby Fabbri and Brendan Perlini in trades — and was pretty candid in this interview with Ken Kal about where his mind is at.
Of particular note was Yzerman’s thoughts on the upcoming Feb. 24 trade deadline: “Our goal is to, if we can, acquire more draft choices. How do you do that? You know, it really depends on what other teams want to do. So I can’t give you a definitive answer. My plan isn’t to be passive, certainly, I’m looking for ways to build for the future.”
The Red Wings currently have three veteran defencemen on expiring deals: Mike Green, Trevor Daley and Jonathan Ericsson (who already passed through waivers unclaimed this season).
Goaltender Jimmy Howard is a pending UFA, too.
Yzerman understands that he’s not dealing from a position of strength.
It would be foolish to bet against the shrewd Red Wings GM over time. The present? Well, it’s not so pleasant.
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