Mike Green is off to Edmonton, leaving behind an underappreciated legacy in Detroit

Sometimes, on the business side of things, why we really love the game gets lost. Players go from our idols to commodities. Real, tangible people who capture our emotions on a nightly basis become mere trading chips, sold off for someone who doesn’t even exist yet. In the life of a rebuild, that’s just reality. The Red Wings have been living that life for over four years now, but that doesn’t make it any easier when the time comes.

“It’s hard. Probably the hardest thing I’ve gone through right before a game.” Dylan Larkin said on now-former teammates Mike Green and Andreas Athanasiou on Sunday. “News like that, it’s two guys that are a huge part of this team. Huge players for us, great guys in this room that are beloved.”

Of course, both Green and Athanasiou were dealt to Ken Holland’s Edmonton Oilers before Monday’s trading deadline. Green being the first move of the day for Kyle Brodziak and a conditional draft pick. Athanasiou was the later blockbuster that hauled in two second round draft picks in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Much debate will circle around if moving Athanasiou for a pair of futures was the right call. But somewhat overshadowed by the Athanasiou-trade was the departure of Green, who, for the better part of five years, held the torch as the Red Wings best defenseman. His contributions to the franchise should not go unnoticed.

From 2015-16 to 2019-20, Green ranks No. 1 among Red Wings defenseman in goals, assists, points, and shots. In that span, his 37 goals is 14 ahead of the next closest. His 141 points is 48 more than the next closest. The gaps become even more significant as the list expands.

While the days of Niklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski patrolling the blue-line are over, and today’s standards for Detroit D-men aren’t exactly high, that shouldn’t diminish Green’s franchise marks over the past half-decade.

Through and through, the Red Wings got everything and more they could have asked for out of Green when they signed him as a free agent in the Summer of 2015.

Memories galore he is leaving the Detroit faithful with, ones that will define his time in the Winged Wheel. Just a handful to reminiscent: He assisted on and took part in the celebration of Dylan Larkin’s first NHL goal, scored a hat trick in the final home opener at Joe Louis Arena and represented the Red Wings at the 2018 NHL all-star game.

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Since inking a two year, $10.7M extension, just before hitting unrestricted free agency, Green’s play has been in decline. Health has largely been an issue. Green’s 2017-18 season was cut short after undergoing spinal surgery. The following season started and ended the same way: on injury reserve battling a liver-attacking virus that stemmed from the back surgery.

Fortunately, it appears Green is doing OK health wise as of today. And while Green’s health is what matters most, there is also no denying Father Time has caught up with the now 34-year-old. He’s no longer the impact offensive defenseman he once was for Detroit. This season he only managed to post three goals and 11 points in 48 games, well behind his pace from the year prior.

Yet, his average ice time has remained well over 20 minutes a game. Why is that? A collection of injuries and transitioning to a younger core is certainly responsible. But more importantly: Detroit doesn’t have the proper personnel. Not exactly shocking news, but the trickle down effect ultimately impacts the Greens and Boweys and Biegas of the world.

In an ideal setting, Green slots in on the third-pair with power play time. That just couldn’t happen in Detroit but will in Edmonton, which is why the fit makes a lot of sense.

But, letting this deal fade into time because of how the past year-and-a-half has gone just doesn’t seem right. Green made a sizable difference on the organization in his first three years. He even opted to stay, despite the team being in the middle of a rebuild, instead of hitting the open market to go elsewhere. Both the Washington Capitals and Ken Holland seeking a reunion with Green should tell you about the kind of person he is.

Now that his chapter in Hockeytown has come to a conclusion, fans would be remorseful to not show him the same gratitude. Five years is a long time in a partnership, and the years seemingly flew by.

So, how will Mike Green be remembered in Detroit? Hopefully, as a solution to the problem. Not the other way around.