Development arrives for Red Wings before victories

John Niyo and Ted Kulfan take a look at the Red Wings at midseason with NHL Network host Tony Luftman. The Detroit News

(Photo: David Guralnick, Detroit News, David Guralnick, Detroit News)Detroit — Mike Green is not even supposed to be here.

Playing without the veteran puck-moving defenseman the Red Wings have won twice, once in regulation, through 42 games.

But, if rebuilding plans had gone by design, Green would have been traded last spring. In return, the Wings would likely have even more than their 18 picks in the 2019 and 2020 drafts.

They also would probably have fewer than 15 wins, which ties them for fewest in the NHL, and a worse goal differential than minus-27, fifth-worst entering…