Holland hands Wings ultimatum as players are threaten to get traded

Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is on a tight schedule, as John Niyo of the Detroit News reports that the GM is giving his team about a month to give him a reason not to become a seller by the Feb. 26 trade deadline. 

The Wings, who currently sit 24th in the League with a 11-12-5 record, have been given what looks to be an ultimatum by Holland, who prior to Detroit defeating the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night, revealed that the next 10-15 games will be “critical in determining what direction we’re gonna go.”

Niyo feels that direction should already be determined and even hints at players who are already on the trade block, such as veterans like Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Tatar, Mike Green, Trevor Daley, and even Jimmy Howard. 

The Wings have tried to initiate a rebuild since the past two seasons, and this could be the right time to finally do it. They are still close to a playoff spot, and could with much needed hard work, clinch a postseason berth before the trade deadline... 

"How much longer they’ll live with this charade — that they’re a playoff team, not a rebuilding one — is still the more pertinent question for this organization," Niyo writes.

However, if the players have trouble accepting Holland's ultimatum and inconsistency continue over the period allowed by the GM, the Wings could go into sell mode to bring in assets that can improve the club over the long term. 

Ultimately, Niyo believes it’s up to the Wings ownership to make that call.