So Long President's Trophy, Hello Stanley Cup?

Damnit.

With millions of dollars under the salary cap, Ken Holland had enough treading space to make a huge splash at the trade deadline.  What did the Wings get?  A 7th round draft pick.

Yaaaaay.

Was there a blockbuster deal out there?  No--Nash stayed in Columbus.  Did any players move that I really wished Detroit would have snagged?  Maybe--Nashville nabbed Paul Gaustad AND Andrei Kostitsyn.  Were there teams around us that made immediate improvements?  Yes--Vancouver and Nashville bought and sold farms.

I still like the Quincey trade, especially after his partner went limp in the wrist, but why move a veteran defenseman like Commodore after losing a veteran defenseman like Ericsson?

By trading Commodore to Tampa, Holland opened up a roster spot.  By making that move so early on Monday, it was reasonable to assume that a trade would be made to fill that spot.  But as the Canucks and Predators kept pilfering the Sabres, the Red Wings remained all quiet on the Western Conference front.

It's a good thing that Brendan Smith will get his chance, but this couldn't be worse timing.  That home-winning streak was fun--but back to reality--the Wings are watching teams pass them on all sides.  Vancouver is now poised to run for the Presidents Trophy, and the Blues and the Predators are riding momentum towards the top of the Central Division.

Detroit is now forced to fend off these teams with Smith and Kindl, Mursak and Emmerton.  I like these players (except Kindl), but I'm not excited about relying on them to secure home ice in the postseason.  I still think the Wings are better built for the playoffs this season than they were in the last two, but the road back to the Finals just got rockier now likely leads away from Joe Louis Arena.

With Pavel Datsyuk in the lineup, Detroit was the best in the West.  It has been frightening to watch the Wings sputter without him.  That has been sufficient evidence that Detroit needs another forward, either a scorer or a bruiser.  I wanted a scorer.  Babcock wanted a bruiser.  I wonder if he's as disappointed as I am.

Peace. AWP