By Craig Custance

updated 7:09 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2008

There was a time when the Detroit Red Wings weren't sure about Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. They knew the young forwards were talented, but had no idea they'd turn into stars.

There was a time when the Red Wings were in transition — Steve Yzerman wasn't going to play forever and star forwards Brendan Shanahan and Sergei Fedorov would eventually move on.

It was around this time that general manager Ken Holland and his assistant Jim Nill met often to talk philosophy. They met to talk about the future of the franchise.

They were meetings between front office execs, but at their core, they were meetings between a former goalie and checking line forward.

So you shouldn't be surprised that Detroit's philosophy moving forward focused on building around defense — specifically puck-moving, mobile defensemen.

The Red Wings are seeing the benefits of those discussions.

"Ken and I were sitting back — you're always analyzing yourself, your teams and teams around the league. The teams that were good teams, they all had a good defense," Nill said. "You look at the strong teams, they have a great back end. We said, 'You know what? Our philosophy has to be building from the back end out.'"

It seemed to Nill that the club was in constant need of defensemen. At the 1999 trading deadline alone, the Red Wings parted with two first-round picks, along with a second- and third-round pick, to add defensemen Chris Chelios and Ulf Samuelsson.

Being a blueline buyer at the deadline is a costly habit, one that Detroit management decided to change.

"We focused on drafting defensemen and acquiring defensemen (as free agents)," Holland said.

Since March 23, 1999 — the date of those deadline deals — the team has drafted defensemen like Niklas Kronwall (2000 first round), Jonathan Ericsson (2002 ninth round), Derek Meech (2002 seventh round), Kyle Quincey (2003 fourth round) and Brendan Smith (2007 first round) — a group that could help form the core of the Detroit defense in the coming years.

Their big free-agent splash in 2007 was signing defenseman Brian Rafalski.

The stockpiling has given the Stanley Cup champs one of the strongest and deepest defenses in hockey. And the current competition along the blue line is one of the reasons why Holland isn't too worried about a Stanley Cup hangover. Too many guys are fighting for jobs.

"With the development of our kids, we feel we have a good competition for spots on our team. We're hoping that's the motivation that's going to allow us to get off to a good start," Holland said. "You talk about Stanley Cup hangover; we feel there is no such thing. It's about being motivated and having emotions. We're hoping the internal competition brings focus."

Kronwall isn't fighting for a roster spot after emerging as a top four defenseman last year, but he said the competition is raising the intensity at practice.

Ericsson has already caught Kronwall's attention as a guy who will be pushing him for playing time down the road.

"He has all the potential in the world," Kronwall said. "He's a big guy, skates unbelievable, has great hands and a bomb for a shot. Give him some time, he's going to develop into a really, really good defenseman."

That depth on defense hasn't gone unnoticed by Holland's peers.

He received calls this summer about the availability of his defensemen, but Holland told all potential suitors to hold off. For now.

"We will use the exhibition season to assess where we're at," Holland said. "We're going to have to move somebody by October 8."

Don't worry, Nicklas Lidstrom, you're safe.

Lidstrom, the one constant through the building and rebuilding of the Red Wings, is also one of the reasons the young defensemen are developing at a rapid rate.

Kronwall said the mix of veteran defensemen like Lidstrom, Chelios and Rafalski with the young group is the ideal learning ground for a green blueliner.

"Oh, absolutely. I can't imagine being in a better place," Kronwall said. "I've been around (Lidstrom) a couple years and I feel like I learn something new every day."

It's just one of the many reasons why coach Mike Babcock thinks Lidstrom should get more consideration for the Hart Trophy. He's the best defenseman in the league and he's passing his skills down to another generation of Red Wings defensemen. That is invaluable to the team.

It might not earn him the NHL's MVP award, but Lidstrom doesn't seem to mind.

"No, (the Hart) is something I don't think that much about," Lidstrom said. "I enjoy winning Stanley Cups. I have no problems winning Stanley Cups, and that's really my goal."

MORE FROM NHL

NHL Section Front

Gift goal helps Wild end Pens' 6-game streak Live: Updates to Tuesday's games Panthers send Lightning to their fifth straight loss Blackhawks begin annual 'circus' road trip in Phoenix Live odds Game matchups Injuries SCORES, STANDINGS, SCHEDULES, STATS Rotoworld: Latest NHL player news, rumors, more Latest NHL videos NHL Section Front   Add NHL headlines to your news reader: