Ken Holland

Ken Holland

(AP file)

GRAND RAPIDS - They are the cries Ken Holland has heard more frequently in recent years as the Detroit Red Wings have slipped from perennially elite to simply playoff hopeful:

Get rid of the old guys! Play the young guys!

The longtime general manager hears it, acknowledges it and, based on his resume that includes three Stanley Cup trophies, is steadfast in his process to assemble another championship-caliber team through solid drafts, prudent signings, patience and some luck.

In a series of comments Tuesday before an audience of some 400 at Van Andel Arena, Holland shared insight into his thinking about the Red Wings as they hover near .500 (currently 19-19-6). They are six points out of a playoff spot heading into Wednesday's game against Boston.

His response to roster shedding? Let's wait another 16 games, or closer to the March 1 trade deadline.

"At that point you have to ask if you're going to be a buyer, a seller or stand pat," he said during an on-stage interview that also included the general managers from the Tigers and Pistons.

"As a manager, my ultimate goal is to win a Stanley Cup," Holland said. "You got to know when to go in (as a trade deadline buyer or seller) and when not to go in. Certainly the standings tell you that."

Even if the Red Wings fall further behind, Holland won't just dump players, in part because it would leave a void. Young players, such as forwards Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, he said, should not be exposed to the pressures of carrying a club. Those expectations, he noted, didn't fall to Henrik Zetterberg or, defensively, to Niklas Kronwall until their mid-20s. For Zetterberg it was after the retirement of Steve Yzerman, while Kronwall's leadership grew after Nicklas Lidstrom retired after 2012.

Now, with Zetterberg and Kronwall age 36, the Red Wings must wait for their young players to emerge as talents, Holland said, and have the chance to grasp the mantle of leaders.

"That's why it's so important to have a Henrik Zetterberg sitting beside an Anthony Mantha or a (Thomas) Vanek and Franz Nielsen playing on a line with Athanasiou, and a Jonathan Ericssen playing (defense) with Xavier Ouellet," Holland said. "... That's where the culture is that can make a difference.

He added:

"The culture won't make the difference if you're not good enough. The culture is not going to make the difference if you're just going to be a superstar. The culture can make a difference on those players that need a little time, a little guidance and a little more maturity. That's where the organization and Grand Rapids can make a difference for where we're trying to get to, and that's to be a Cup contender."

Holland believes there are "five, six or seven players" on the Griffins who will be playing in Detroit "in two to three years."

"We're going to continue to try and be competitive, we're going to continue to try and make the playoffs and our ultimate goal is to eventually be a Cup contender."

He also disliked the idea of rebuilding, preferring "rebuilding on the fly."

"To me, rebuild means eight to 10 years, and there are teams that have made the playoffs one year in 10 while rebuilding," he said. "I don't know of anyone that wants to sign up for that program. We're trying to win every year. What's winning? Winning is making the playoffs and you're in the top half of the league.

"It's hard to make the playoffs in our sport now. It's totally different, even from five years ago because of parity (and hard salary caps). Nobody's one trade away ... maybe if you drafted a generational player with a No. 1 overall pick. But with these franchises, you got to get better with every move and hope that some of your young people get better."