No, that is not going to work. Don't try to empty everything out and start with a blank, just edit what is there to achieve the desired effect.
What I would do, is first use webmaster mode, to ensure that products_t.tpl is the template that is displaying the table that you are trying to change.
Then simply enable Admin->General Settings->Appearance->Display product code (SKU) in the products list.
Now in products_t.tpl line 23 see this:
Code:
<div class="sku">{$lng.lbl_sku}: {$product.productcode|escape}</div>
Delete {$lng.lbl_sku}: and then add your <a></a> around {$product.productcode|escape}