David Pagnotta from The Fourth Period reports that the Detroit Red Wings are attempting to resolve their surplus of defensemen through the trade market. Pagnotta specifically mentioned Erik Gustafsson and Travis Hamonic as trade bait moving forward, though Justin Holl could likely be thrown into the mix as well.
Gustafsson would be the least surprising veteran blueliner to move in the next few weeks. Although he technically made the team out of training camp, he was waived before the start of the campaign and was reassigned once the team welcomed James van Riemsdyk to the active roster. Given that he’s only making $2MM this season, Gustafsson would be one of the easiest ones to move.
Still, there’s an argument to be made that Gustafsson is overpaid, even on that reasonable salary. He had a disappointing first year with the Red Wings last season, scoring two goals and 18 points in 60 games despite being marketed as an offensive defenseman. His -19 rating finished as the worst on the team, and his 16:19 ATOI was second to last among defensemen with more than 40 games played.
The latter two would be somewhat trickier to move. Detroit only recently signed Hamonic (August 15th), and has a shortage of depth on the right side. Regardless of his disastrous play during the team’s home opener, it would be relatively uncharacteristic for a team to move on from a free agent signing that quickly.
Meanwhile, Holl would be the most difficult to move given his salary for the rest of the 2025-26 season. In potentially the worst signing for the Red Wings under Steve Yzerman’s stewardship, the team gave Holl a three-year, $10.2MM ($3.4MM AAV) contract in 2023, with a 10-team no-trade list in each year of the deal. Like Gustafsson, Holl was sent through waivers shortly before the start of the regular season. Now playing for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Holl is unlikely to have much of a market considering 31 teams passed on him via the waiver wire.
Regardless, with the positive play of newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker and youngster Axel Sandin Pellikka, the trio of veterans is unlikely to get an opportunity with Detroit anytime soon. A hypothetical trade wouldn’t entirely be without precedent, either. After the emergence of Albert Johansson last year, the Red Wings traded Olli Määttä to the Utah Hockey Club for a 2025 third-round pick in late October.
Still, none of this is urgent. The Red Wings have enough cap space to absorb Gustafsson and Holl’s buried contracts, and could do the same with Hamonic if he continues slumping. However, it would be a better service to the players if Detroit could put them in a situation with more opportunities.
They just signed Hamonic… are they only realizing now that he’s awful? What part of the Yzerplan is this?
Guess Detroit has no scouts in Canada. They would have known Hamonic has been done for couple years. Holl is a Dubas guy . He is at best seventh third pair guy.
Doesn’t take a scout. Damn near every hockey site — this one included — has been characterizing Hamonic as washed up for some time now.
I honestly thought he had retired.
It’s called depth. It’s a good thing.
Ahahaha
They did this literally 1 year ago and traded Olli Maatta for pennies on the dollar.
Seems the price of catching lightning in a bottle has increased from a PTO to a million buck 1 year deal.
Had a dream, Detroit was on the top of the division rankings! Nah, can’t be!
Oh but there it is, maybe temporary but looks nice!
Appears that they have found their “energy” to fully utilize the talent they have. All the talent in the world is useless unless supported by energy. Now they know they “can do”, its up to them to keep doing. So far, it has been energy that has pulled them from the bottom of the barrel.