When Matthew Stafford was traded to the Rams, this town went into mourning.
Why? Stafford never played on a championship team or even won a playoff game. He was not an MVP. He was selected for just one Pro Bowl. He left as the 14th-ranked quarterback in the NFL the season he was traded, according to profootballfocus.com.
Perhaps it was because Stafford was as close to any current Detroit athlete resembling a star.
It has been awhile since this town has had such a dearth of star power.
The Lions, as frustratingly disappointing as they have been, were the franchise of Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh. Barry and Megatron are already in the Hall of Fame, and Suh will join them one day, too.
Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg…that's just a partial list of the Red Wings' stars.
Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Chauncey Billups, Grant Hill, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince…It was easy to identify with the Pistons for decades.
Justin Verlander won the MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year wearing the Old English 'D.' Max Scherzer got the Cy Young. Miguel Cabrera was a back-to-back MVP Award winner. They will all join Ivan Rodriguez in the Hall of Fame.
Remember the excitement when the Tigers signed Pudge? Or traded for Miggy when he was in his prime?
Now a blockbuster move is the Red Wings trading high-priced forward Anthony Mantha, who floated like a butterfly and stung like a pea, to Washington.
But there is hope. Here's a look at the star possibilities for Detroit's fledgling sports teams:
Lions
The Lions currently have less potential star power than other Detroit teams, but the NFL makes it easier to turn over such situations much quicker.
The Lions do have a great player, Frank Ragnow. Thing is, centers, although an undoubtedly important building block, don't sizzle in headlines.
The Lions' best chance is running back D'Andre Swift. At 35th overall in the 2020 draft, you can debate whether the Lions would have been better served picking RB's Jonathan Taylor, Cam Akers or J.K. Dobbins. Yet, Swift did score 10 touchdowns, average 4.6 yards per carry and is an obvious threat as a receiver. If the Lions have a position of a strength, it's their offensive line. Good for Swift.
Quarterback Jared Goff was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, did lead the Rams to the Super Bowl, plays the most influential position by far and is just 26.
Tigers
Perceptions of baseball prospects tend to go up and down like stocks. The current flavors of the day are outfielder Akil Baddoo, the Rule 5 draft pick off to a sensational start, and Casey Mize, the first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, who has come around remarkably swiftly after a sluggish MLB debut in 2020.
Even when the inevitable slump comes for Baddoo, his upside remains notable. He has genuine speed, a clearly live bat and a relatively short batting stroke. The Tigers sure could use lightning in a bottle from an unanticipated source. It could be Baddoo. Mize has displayed poise, adaptability and, most importantly, found his velocity.
Conversely, left-hander Tarik Skubal has not thrown nearly as well during his first two starts. Both his velocity and spin rate are off from the last two years. Two starts, however, don't make or break a career. Both Mize and Skubal have star potential.
The real fun will begin when the minor leagues start next month. Who isn't anxious to see how Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Matt Manning develop? All were top 10 picks in the draft, Torkelson and Greene in the top 5. Each has flashed standout promise.
Red Wings
Dylan Larkin has been designated as the Red Wings' future. He's received a nice contract, the sacred 'C' has been attached to his sweater and, at 24, he's entering his prime as an NHL forward. But Larkin has taken a clear step back. Despite getting 20 minutes per game of ice time, Larkin has eight goals, 14 assists and 22 points in 40 games. He is minus 12 and his even-strength Corsi has slipped under 50 for the first time since 2016-17. Oh, he does have a power play goal. One. Also, Larkin has "come through" with five assists on the power play.
Larkin's lack of production and dwindling metrics are stunning. So, perhaps, he isn't going to be the standout many of us thought he'd be. Just reality.
Next season is huge for Larkin. At age 25, Yzerman had his fourth straight 50-goal plus season, including two over 60, albeit in a more wide-open era. Datsyuk scored 30 goals and Zetterberg 39. Fedorov won the Hart Trophy at 24. As a defenseman, Lidstrom had 67 points in 81 games at 25, including eight power-play goals.
None of the Red Wings' first rounders late in Ken Holland's tenure have remotely displayed star power. Yzerman adroitly wiggled out of Mantha's contract. Evgeny Svechnikov routinely clears waivers. Dennis Cholowski, Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina have been decidedly underwhelming.
Filip Hronek is a solid player, the Red Wings' best, and perhaps a top pairing NHL defenseman some day, but not a star.
TSN recently named Yzerman's initial two first-round draft picks, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, as the first- and third-best prospects in hockey. Seider, in particular, has held his own in an AHL-level league in Sweden. He is big, mean, skilled and a right-handed shot. A lot to like.
There is a reason why Yzerman is collecting draft picks the way DJ Khaled hordes Air Jordans. More picks equals increased odds of hitting on a star or two or three, even beyond the first round. You know, like Yzerman did with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point in the second and third rounds in Tampa Bay.
Pistons
Troy Weaver has been incredibly active as Pistons' GM. He made draft night deals to select Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, who have been excellent as rookies considering their age. At 18, it's difficult to assess Killian Hayes. Stars, though? Seem more like solid starters. In the ultimate league of stars, the Pistons need one, even with the emergence of Jerami Grant. The Pistons will get a good player in this draft, especially in the Top 5. But the best chance for a real difference-maker would be with lottery luck netting Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham at first overall.
