Detroit Red Wings mailbag: Ken Holland's future, trades, NHL draft

The NHL season is rounding into the stretch run, and the Detroit Red Wings are headed for a second straight miss at the playoff picture. Management is focused on the future as Monday’s trade deadline approaches.

Perfect time for another mailbag. Thank you for all the questions on Twitter: @HeleneStJames.

General manager Ken Holland is in the last year of his contract, and there has been no talks with owner Chris Ilitch about an extension, but Holland goes back two decades with the family, so that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on the way out. Maybe he slides into an advisory role with the Wings, as Jimmy Devellano did.

Holland has been focused on rebuilding the team for the past few years, hanging onto first-round picks since 2013 and keeping spots open for prospects (Svechnikov and Tyler Bertuzzi both were penciled in to start this season in Detroit, but were waylaid by injuries). I know Holland wants to keep working, either in Detroit or elsewhere. For those hoping to see Steve Yzerman take the GM reins, he is under contract with Tampa Bay through next season, and why leave a team he has built into a contender for years to come?

More: Holland explains the Petr Mrazek trade to Flyers

Andreas Athanasiou is an electrifying forward with the way he can create scoring opportunities out of nowhere because of his ability to skate and finish. He’s still figuring out that he needs to be more consistent — a guy with his skills shouldn’t go 13 games between goals, as he recently did. If he has a strong finish to the season and flirts with the 20-goal mark, maybe the Wings get a good offer for him, such as a high-end defense prospect.

More: 5 Red Wings who could be traded at deadline

Jeff Blashill explains benching of Andreas Athanasiou

In talking to front office personnel, defense is a priority. So beyond Rasmus Darlin, the consensus to go at first overall, some of the names are Adam Boqvist, Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, Quinn Hughes (Hughes plays at Michigan). The Wings are very pleased with how their 2016 first-round pick, defenseman Dennis Cholowski, is progressing, but they need a high-end defense prospect in the system, preferably one who maybe could play in Detroit as soon as next season.

More Red Wings:

NHL should retool lottery, give worst teams better odds to draft high

Wings assistant GM Ryan Martin talks top picks for 2018 NHL draft

How are the Wings' top prospects faring in minors?

Teams are only allowed four call-ups once past the trade deadline (until the end of the regular season) barring an emergency situation. I know they’d like to get a look at defenseman Filip Hronek because of how well he has played in Grand Rapids, where he’s running one of the power plays. Entering Saturday, he led Griffins defensemen with 28 points in 46 games, which also put him second in the AHL among rookie defensemen. Hronek stems from the Pavel Datsyuk contract trade, as part of the deal saw the Wings acquire Arizona’s second round pick (53rd overall) in the 2016 draft.

Defenseman Joe Hicketts is another candidate — he impressed with his energy when he played in the Jan. 22 game at New Jersey. I’m hearing good things about forward Evgeny Svechnikov after a rough first half — he’s playing with some swagger again, as demonstrated Thursday when he had two primary assists. Something to consider, though, is the Griffins are fighting to make the playoffs, and with the Wings headed for another miss, it’d behoove the organization to see the Griffins make the playoffs as it offers tremendous experience for players.

Via email from mjones23: Will the Wings sign David Pope?

They’re hoping to sign him this summer, because otherwise he can become an unrestricted free agent August 15. They drafted Pope at 109th overall in 2013. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound forward is finishing up his fourth year at University of Nebraska-Omaha with a flourish (20 goals, 39 points in 31 games). The Wings will talk to Pope once his season is over, with the intent to get him signed and turn him pro.

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