from Chris Gear of the Daily Faceoff,
The Wings are another team long overdue for a breakout. After 25 consecutive playoff appearances between 1989-90 and 2015-16, the Wings have embarked on a six-year stretch where they have not finished higher than 25th overall (the place they currently occupy in 2021-22). The run of poor results includes the dreadful 2019-20 season during which they finished 17-49-5.
Unlike the Sabres, the Wings absolutely have to look at their drafting as a reason for their poor recent showing. Between 2012 and 2018, the only impact players selected by the Wings in any round were Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi in 2013, Dylan Larkin in 2014 and Filip Hronek in 2016.