What do you think the Wings need to do this off-season to remain competitive in the face of an aging roster? Here is what you had to say:
Defense ranks No. 1
Defense! I know everybody in the NHL wants a big defenseman and the Wings are no different. Larry Murphy and Chris Chelios are too old and slow to handle the rush. They rely too heavily on the backcheck. They should package one of their goalies and a forward to sew up this weakness. They should keep Federov. He has been effective over the last several years in the playoffs. The absence of Yzerman and Shanahan enabled L.A. to focus there attention on him. He is still a very valuable player.
Mark Bracey
Ann Arbor, Mich.
We need some young blood!
Wings do need to make changes, no doubt. I am getting tired of excuses and mistakes at this level of hockey. As a dedicated wingnut, and long time fan, the two cups we won was a dream that lasted for two years! It was nice to think we were close again. Injuries aside, we were too old to compete without your top players, as any team in the NHL would be!
Bowman, in my opinion, should stay, but with some changes in his coaching, like playing younger players.
Lapointe should resign. One bad game is not enough, but consider that we could trade him later if need to.
Federov, not Superman! He stays. Too much money already paid out in bonus, and at $2 million a year, that is a bargin for a 80% player.
Wings will come back next season younger, and HUNGRY!
Dede
Ferndale, Mich.
Win one for the coach
I really would like to see Scotty return next year! Maybe if he tells the team it's his last year the team would come together and play with some passion, wanting to get that last Stanley Cup for Scotty before he retires!
As for signing Martin Lapointe, definitely keep him! You don't want that talent going elsewhere! He's a great competitor and he is only going to get better!
Trade Sergei! PLEASE! He is one of those on and off kind of players. Not to mention a cry baby! We could get some definite talent for Sergei, maybe someone who can give us a game in and game out 100% effort!
Malori Reese
Louisville, Ky.
Start with the veterans
What the Wings should do this offseason is to remove the guys who have failed to bring home a Cup in the last three seasons. They need to clear off some of the older guys for younger players. Guys like Larry Murphy, Chris Chelios, Steve Duchesne, Doug Brown, Pat Verbeek, etc. It may sound drastic, but if they want the rebuilding to be less painful they need younger guys like, (Jason Williams, Maxim Kuznetsov, Jiri Fischer, Boyd Devereaux and Yuri Butsayev). In the offseason they need to get real tough on Federov, because that overtime goal everyone could see on the replay was his fault.
Kome Akpolo
Dodge City, Kansas
You'll see a lot of changes for Wings'
This off-season should be interesting. I don't think Scotty will be back, and I think Barry Smith will take over the team. If this happens, Dave Lewis will leave to pursue other options. I think that there are a few players (Larry Murphy, Doug Brown, Todd Gill, Brent Gilchrist) that have no shot at being back. Pat Verbeek and Igor Larionov might be back. I think they will make a pitch to Lapointe, but if he doesn't come at the right price, I expect him to go too. Sergei is not on the block, but a deal involving a first-round pick and a proven player or two would not surprise me.
Bobby Konrad
Belleville, Mich.
Don't change a thing!
I think that the team should not change a thing. As far as I'm concerned this Detroit team is the most talented and complete in the NHL. Obviously, something went terribly wrong this year, but this current roster is a Stanley Cup champion team. It is too late to make excuses, but certainly this horrible turn of events would not have happened with the presence of a healthy and productive Steve Yzerman. He is the captain, but more importantly he is the heart and soul of the team. This season was a huge disappointment, but I believe that Detroit should not move anyone and look ahead to next season.
Chester Sharp
San Diego, Calif.
Step up Wings'!
The Wings need to get younger and stronger on the defensive front (except for Nicklas Lidstrom). Also, they need a true high scoring center or winger. They have great chemistry, but nobody can take control of the game when Stevie Yzerman isn't playing. With a proven goal scorer that can take control of a game. Federov they need to keep, and keep him by restructuring his contract with heavy incentive-related goals, that way he will stay sharp. It's time for a new coach, Scotty was great but it's just time for a change. Keep Martin Lapointe, end of that.
Simon Koza
Chula Vista, Calif.
Keep Bowman on top
The Wings need to keep Scotty Bowman in town if they hope to have any chance at another Cup in the near future. Also a priority should be making sure Federov stays around.
However, DON'T waste money on Lapointe!! I think he proved in the last part of the season and the playoffs that he's not worth his price
Maximiliano Ades
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Give us another big-time scorer
They need Pavel Bure. They need another superstar to augment Yzerman and Shanahan since Federov does not show up for every game. However, don't destroy the chemistry since this team did have the second best record in the league and they lost to the Kings due to injuries to their two best players. Even the Avalanche could not beat the Kings if they lost Bourque and Forsberg together.
Suneel Paidisetty
Racine, Wis.
Who is the weakest link?
The Wings need to look at their goaltending instead of consistent winners like Sergei Federov and Martin Lapointe. As for Coach Scotty Bowman, what would be a better way to end an illustrious coaching career than to raise the Cup once more? The Wings have enough fire power to propel themselves to another championship. They're awesome enough as they are. Don't make any trades (with the exception of the weakest link) during the offseason! The 2001-2002 Red Wings will bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to Detroit!
Glenn
Cookstown, N.J.
Give young players experience
The Red Wings need to become a younger team and start including some of the young players in the organization. And I don't mean for 10 games a season. They need to start playing 60+ games a season so that they can become experienced. Also, Larry Murphy needs to retire along with some others.
Geoff Kotila
Bloomfield, Mich.
The complete plan
Scottie Bowman is to important to the team, he needs to stay. The team should trade Sergei Fedorov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Pat Verbeek to the Avalanche for Peter Forsberg, Chris Drury and Adam Foote.
Then maybe sign Joe Sakic as a free agent. Sign Martin Lapointe if it's reasonable. Keep Osgood in the net, I believe in him, he won the Cup once, he can do it again. And when Yzerman retires in a couple of years, which will be the saddest day of my life, Sakic will be our No. 1 center for the next 6- 10 years.
Also in the off-season Larry Murphy should retire, it just seems he's slowing down, I'll miss him. I don't know the situation with Chris Chelios, but if he keeps playing the way he did in the first round, I want him gone. GO WINGS FOREVER!
Michael
Fountain Valley, Calif.
Out with the old, in with the new
Scotty Bowman should retire and let Barry Smith take over. The Red Wings again have to get the identity as a tough, intimidating team that won the Cup in '97 and '98. Ken Holland should sign Martin Lapointe and trade Sergei Federov for a punishing D-man like Scott Stevens. The team needs to keep the young nucleus of Martin Lapointe, Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, and Tomas Holmstrom. Keep the superstars Yzerman, Shanahan, Nicklas Lidstrom. Release the older players Igor Larionov, Brent Gilchrist, Doug Brown, Steve Duchesne, and Pat Verbeek. Surround them with young, quality, tough players and we will definitely be back to the teams that won the cup in '97 and '98.
Anton Kieu
Chicago, Ill.
