Red Wings To-Do List: Find More Offense!!!!

With the Detroit Red Wings season now concluded (last Saturday night in a 5-4 overtime loss to Columbus on the road), we now turn towards a key off-season for GM Steve Yzerman.

The team is obviously better than last year's train wreck (17-49-5).  They finished with 48 points (19-27-10) and the goaltending and defense was markedly better than the  2019-20 season.

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But now, they need to take the next step.  They need to be a playoff team next season (or damn close to it).  How to get it??  You see the title....FIND MORE OFFENSE!!!!

They've got to find a way to score more goals consistently.  Too many times they scored 1 or 2 goals in a game and that's not good enough.  Eight times they were shut out this season (actually won one of those in a shootout).  That's unacceptable in a 56 game season.

Here's the good news...they have lots of money coming off the books this off-season.  Henrik Zetterberg's Long Term Injured Reserve money is finally gone.  The Stephen Weiss buyout money is finally gone (another great Ken Holland signing, ugh!!!).  And guys like Darren Helm, Luke Glendening, and Valtteri Filppula are all unrestricted free agents.  He can use that money in free agency to sign some guys who can score, and score big!!

And they have lots of draft choices in the next three years (29 as a matter of fact).  Stevie Y needs to hit on some impact players in the upcoming Entry Draft that can help the team in the next two years.

And keep this name in mind...Moritz Seider.  He was their first round draft pick two years ago.  The 20 year old defenseman is 6'4" and 205 lbs.  He played in Sweden this season and is very highly thought of.  He needs to be on this team this coming fall, IMO.

And finally, what to do with sixth-year head coach Jeff Blashill (pictured above)?  We may find out shortly.  Because Yzerman said he would discuss Jeff's future (his contract is up) right after the season is over.  If not, Gerard Gallant (Stevie's former teammate with the Wings) could be the right replacement.

Pressure is building on Yzerman.  The Wings haven't been good since Mike Babcock was coach.  The excuses of the bad contracts and a barren farm system have dissipated to a large degree.  They need to a make a big move this summer to show the fans they're serious about winning in 2021-22.  It's time to start winning again in Hockeytown.  Go do it, Stevie!!!!