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Red Wings GM preaches patience after slow summer

Ken Holland

FILE - In this April 29, 2014, file photo, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland addresses the media after participating in the team photo at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Red Wings have signed executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland to a four-year contract through the 2017-18 season. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

AP

Rather than make a big free agent plunge this summer, the Detroit Red Wings settled for re-signing players like Kyle Quincey and Jonas Gustavsson. That might not be the most exciting way of doing things, but GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News that it all comes back to his philosophy about building through the draft.

“We need to draft. We need to develop. We need to have patience,” Holland said.

Holland admitted that the Red Wings aren’t currently viewed as a top contender, which is part of the reason why they didn’t land one of the “small clusters of those individuals available” in free agency.

In the short term, Holland repeatedly pointed to the possibility that the Red Wings might enjoy better luck with injuries. Even so, development was a big part of his pitch to the Detroit News, which makes more sense when you consider this outlook:

“Three years from now, there will be a brand new rink,” Holland said. “Our ownership has always been committed to doing to the cap. I have the green light from our ownership to spend to the cap.

“I think it’s a great time for the league. I think it’s a great time for the Detroit Red Wings.”

It almost sounds like he’s saying that the times will only get better as the years go on, yet a healthier Red Wings team could very well be dangerous in 2014-15.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins