DETROIT – The seemingly ageless Detroit Red Wings are about to find themselves in a bit of a pickle unless the elixir that has propped the team’s elder statesmen is replenished. As one friend has called them, The Euro Wings, Detroit has been able to withstand the aging and retirement of its best players for seemingly generations. Steve Yzerman and Sergie Federov got old and departed the ice but the Wings kept up the drumbeat of success. This year Brian Rafalski retired somewhat abruptly. And while Niklas Lidstrom, 41, may speak in hush tones of his potential retirement, he signed for one more year with Detrroit on Monday. Add in that Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall will be over 30 years of age by next season. With enough elixir, the Red Wings accumulated 104 points in the standings and brushed aside the Phoenix Coyotes in round one of the playoffs. They picked up 47 wins on the season and showed no significant areas of concern in their game until they were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in round two. The Sharks had speed, agility and strong legs while the Wings suddenly appeared to be graying around the temples. The club’s power play was 22.3% on the season and the penalty kill was suspect at 82.3%. In the Pro Hockey News Mock NHL Draft, much of the quality talent that is closer to stepping on an NHL ice surface is picked over; there are a few prospects to choose from. But their progress to suiting up for the Wings is clearly measured in years. Among the more noted names is Oscar Klefbom (Sweden) who would seemingly be able to come in a fill a spot on the blueline. It is on defense after all where the Red Wings will be most vulnerable this coming season.
The Detroit management and brain trust led by General Manager Ken Holland have demonstrated a knack for rebuilding and being prepared for decisions like Rafalski’s retirement. This is not an organization that panics or makes decisions based on perceived need. The strengths of the team are in the forward positions and in goal. Both of these areas were strong during the season. That gives the draft team an opportunity to consider building on that strength for the future and go with youth and trust in player development and the aging process. Connor Murphy, son of former NHLer Gord Murphy, is a native of Dublin (Ohio) just outside of Columbus and has played for the Junior Blue Jackets. This coming hockey season he is committed to the Miami (OH) Redhawks along with teammate Tyler Biggs from the USA U-18 developmental team. Murphy is listed as 6’3” and 194 pounds making him a big 18-year old defenseman. This year at the 2011 U18 World Championships, Murphy scored three goals and four points and was plus-seven in six games. He was named Player of the Game after he scored the gold-medal winning overtime goal, his second of the game, helping Team USA defeat Sweden 4-3. He played in only 14 games this past season with an injury limiting his ice time. He picked up only six points on the season. He’s been in Ann Arbor, Michigan playing for the US National Team Development Program so there is no reason why the Red Wings should not be familiar with his play or potential. Murphy has size, skating ability, puck control, and may be available in a shorter period of time than many others at the 24th slot in this year’s draft. “With the 24th pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings select defenseman Connor Murphy of the 2011 Champion U18 national team.”
For more information on Connor Murphy click here. Contact LM.Davis@prohockeynews.com
