The Detroit Red Wings’ impressive 25-year playoff streak is officially over. The team’s quarter-century chase of Lord Stanley’s cherished prize has ceased. Every die-hard Wing’s fan, myself included, could rightfully pen a heartfelt 1,000-word eulogy on the subject. Those same die-hard fans could just as easily propose a 2,000-word theses on the Red Wings need to rebuild and restore the team to greatness.
Now that the streak is finally over in Detroit, it appears that the Red Wings’ brass have swallowed the bitter pill and admitted that the rebuild in Hockeytown is on.
Jimmy Devellano, senior vice-president of the Wings, conceded to MLive on Wednesday morning:
"For some time now, some people have been bugging us to rebuild," Devellano said.