What the Hull?

Hockeytown has yet another new face to get used to as the Red Wings announced the signing of free agent sniper/cherry-picker Brett Hull on Monday.

The addition of Hull is the summer’s fourth example of the Red Wings refusual to take a look at the team’s average age. Hull, 37, joins goaltender Dominik Hasek, left wing Luc Robitaille and defenseman Fredrik Olausson as the newest members of the Red Wings’ way-over-30 club.

To most people in Detroit, last year’s early exit from the playoffs showed that the team lacked the toughness to advance far into the postseason. The Red Wings have responded by allowing their most physical forward to leave via free agency, trading for a new goalie, and signing two ultra-lightweight forwards.

Tell me how that fixes the problem.

Brett Hull is possibly the least defensive, least tough player in the league. There is no doubt that he has incredible offensive skills, but those aren’t what the Red Wings need right now.

The Wings need grit. They had it in 1997 and they won the Cup. Now they have finesse. It remains to be seen if they can win the Cup with that alone.