Ever since Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland took over the Red Wings' front office duties in 1997, he's had a clear-cut plan for approaching the trade deadline: find that added piece for a Stanley Cup contender that will improve the team. However, this trade deadline comes with an added obstacle, as realignment is set to take place next season.
First, due to the lockout-shortened season, the Red Wings are in the middle of the playoff race in the Western Conference. Though unlike other years, they haven't separated themselves from the playoff pretenders.
This puts Holland and the Red Wings in a predicament, since they could make a trade and then not even qualify for the playoffs. If that happened, it could potentially set the franchise back several years.
Holland addressed his thought process regarding the upcoming trade deadline on March 22 with the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James:
From our perspective, how it affects the Detroit Red Wings - we need to win some games. I look at the trade deadline, and there are buyers and sellers, and those that stand pat. And those that stand pat are teams that are on the ...
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Article written by Brett Kaplan
Detroit Red Wings: Deadline Deal Will Be Harder Due to Realignment
March 22nd, 2013 by Brett Kaplan Leave a reply »
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