Detroit – How do you define rebuild?
There is a strong argument the Red Wings started to rebuild when Nicklas Lidstrom skated in solitude back to the bench door on April 20, 2012, and looked up at the scoreboard after the clock expired in the fifth and final game against the Predators, knowing his career was likely done.
In the wake of Steve Yzerman, Scotty Bowman, Brendan Shanahan and Sergei Fedorov, the Wings were due a little refurbishing.
When they did not sign the next big free agents, Ryan Suter, a sensible replacement for Lidstrom, or Zach Parise, both of who chose the comforts of kin over the courtship of the Red Wings brass, the need grew.