Quoting: HypotheticalImpossibility
Yes, adding good young players to a team is a W. Dare I say they may even make it out of the first round more than once during their window.
To your points...
1) Being a plug is not an indicator of a player's compete. It means that you're a temporary fill for a roster, not a major piece going forward. Like David Kampf, for example. Holl is a plug and has compete. He's just not good.
2) The Wings have as many, if not more high-rated prospects in their system than good players on the roster. How is that "in the middle of a window," especially considering half of their good players are 23 and under?
3) Again, a bunch of plugs were added to the roster. Yzerman saw an opportunity to trade a late round pick that is less likely to amount to something, along with some spare parts, and fill a major need on the roster. He took it. The objective was to make the Wings less likely to get blown out on the regular, not to win the cup. Your argument is misframed.
1- I was as big a Holl supporter as there was around here when he was a Leaf (IE I was aware he was simply an OK number 4 most of his tenure in toronto) and yet I was told constantly that he had no compete, that is why I presented them to your buddy there who has done nothing but talk him down and wont even say he has compete
2-prospects are prospects, and until they prove they can do anything at the NHL level, they are simply that. The wings dont have a McDavid or Mackinnon in the wings who is all but a lock to be a star and push a competitive window. If you cant even see the window, you cant say it's gonna open ever. So we go by what the wings are icing now.
3-no, a bunch of plugs dont need to be added to the roster. A guy like Perron? Kane? Sure, get a vet leader or two who has been there. Yzerman has added and over paid for Compher, Copp, Holl, Husso, and Chariot, and then added other vet guys in Ghost, Petry Maatta etc. He has spent a lot of money to be as good as he would be if he shopped in the bargain bin