the cat

Quality RD's don't just grow on trees. They either have to be drafted or generally acquired through Free Agency. The cost of trading for one is insanely high. Filip Hronek who is a good offensive RD but not great and also an average defender. And look at what was the price to get him. 17th Overall and 43rd overall. Above average RD's rarely ever hit the UFA market and if they do they want way above value in terms of cap hit and term. Criticize Steve Y all you want about signing Chariot and Holl but the reality is he signed two bigger RD's who can play in the NHL to 3-4 year terms at a cap hit that doesn't handcuff the team as he waits for his draft picks to come up the ranks. We need bodies on defense to play now and not give our young defense prospects enough rope to hang themselves with and crush them. Steve Y has been heavily focused on drafting D, especially RD, since he took over. 50% of his picks in the first 2 rounds of the draft in the 5 drafts he's overseen are used to draft Defense. Despite our Defense pool now being stacked he continued this by using 3 of the first 5 picks in 2023 to draft D. He knows the not all these D picks will pan out and he just keeps continuing to pile up to D pool hoping that a few of these guys will become home runs. The other guys who are good defenders but can't beat out the great defenders will be traded to acquire good forwards. Like Sebrango being used as a chip to get DeBrincat. Expect more of this. One of Wallinder, Buium, Johannsson, Tuomisto will likely be used in a trade to acquire a good forward as not all of them can play on the Red Wings, but they have value for acquiring forwards. It's easier to trade for forwards than Defense and Steve Y knows that. Draft the D. Trade for the Forwards. Is the better way to build a team that can compete for a cup