Detroit — By the spring of 2013, Mike Babcock coached a makeshift Red Wings lineup.
“We’re in flux,” Babcock said two years before decamping for the Toronto Maple Leafs, where personnel riches, most recently John Tavares, settle on him like manna upon the Israelites.
Five years later, the Wings are still in flux.
Over the past 10 days, they evaluated prospects in development camp, re-signed a veteran defenseman and signed two veteran free agents.
The 2018-19 Wings look like a placeholder, amid ample demand for change.
The roster will be much the same as last season, with a couple of potentially invigorating additions, before 2019-20 heralds the possibility of an overhaul, abetted by significant cap space.