With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at bubble teams in recent days, we now shift the focus to teams currently in a playoff spot. Next up are the Red Wings.
Although they’ve gotten frustratingly close the past two years, the Red Wings are wholly poised for postseason competition for the first time in a decade. Not only are they projecting toward making the playoffs, but there’s a decent chance they’ll have home-ice advantage in the first round. There are noticeable flaws in the roster, raising concerns that the team’s success relies heavily on John Gibson‘s remarkable performance since early December. Regardless, given the ridiculous amount of cap space available to him, general manager Steve Yzerman has the opportunity to turn this team into a formidable playoff opponent.
Record
33-19-6, 3rd in the Atlantic (78% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$59.38MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, CBJ 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, CGY 7th, DET 7th
2027: DET 1st, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th
Trade Chips
The Red Wings have selected at least one player in the first round for 13 consecutive years. Not all of those have landed, though it has been enough for Detroit to restock its cupboards. Assuming an acquiring team wouldn’t expect the Red Wings to reach the Stanley Cup Final or even the Eastern Conference Final, their first-round selection this year could have significant value with the expectation that it falls around the 20 to 25 mark.
With their numerous first-round picks, Detroit can trade some prospects, depending on the magnitude of additions they want to make. The Red Wings’ biggest trade chips come from between the pipes. A few days ago, we peddled the idea of Detroit trading Cam Talbot to a desperate team around the deadline, with the idea they would call up prospect Sebastian Cossa in his stead. Cossa, being the heir-apparent, wouldn’t affect Talbot alone, however.
Detroit has one of the best goaltending prospects not currently in professional hockey. Trey Augustine, 20, is in his third year at Michigan State University, managing a 20-6-0 record with a .932 SV% and 1.96 GAA. Coupled with his pair of gold medals from the World Junior Championships, Augustine could fetch a massive return at the deadline. Famously, the Florida Panthers used Devon Levi and Spencer Knight to acquire Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones, respectively, each of whom had a hand in their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
While the Red Wings will likely want to retain prospects such as Carter Bear, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Nate Danielson, some lower-level prospects may be traded. While circumstances may change, Amadeus Lombardi, Carter Mazur, and Shai Buium don’t seem likely to have a long-term future in Detroit, making them potential candidates in trade packages for acquiring high-level talent.
Team Needs
Top-Four Defenseman: Of all the playoff-bound teams, Detroit has one of the most obvious flaws. After Simon Edvinsson suffered a lower-body injury on January 22, the Red Wings concluded play before the Olympics with a record of 2-3-1. Even before losing Edvinsson, the need was obvious. It’s clear that head coach Todd McLellan doesn’t trust rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka (yet) in high-leverage situations, and veteran Ben Chiarot is a better fit for strong bottom-pairing play. Throughout the season, Detroit has been loosely connected to top-four defenseman such as Dougie Hamilton and Justin Faulk, both of whom make sense to fill the need. Even if a player like Morgan Rielly becomes available, or another top-four blue liner with term, the Red Wings should be the first team calling.
Some Jam Up Front: This is one of the more obscure talking points of the Red Wings’ makeup. As of now, the leading forwards on the team in hits are Marco Kasper (131) and Emmitt Finnie (86). This is not an argument that Detroit needs to pursue a punch-heavy forward like Ryan Reaves or Matt Rempe, but they should aim to become nastier to play against, especially with an eye on playoff competition. Coupled with their need for an additional boost of offense, Kiefer Sherwood would have been the ideal fit had he not already been dealt to the San Jose Sharks. Still, would a player like Evander Kane make sense? He’s scored nine goals and 25 points in 56 games for the Vancouver Canucks this season, and has only failed to clear the 100-hit mark twice throughout his 16-year career. He would help provide the Red Wings with a mild boost of offense, playoff experience, and much-needed grit.
Image courtesy of Robert Killips of Lansing State Journal.
I would like to see Amadeus Lombardi (nearly a pt per game 22 yo C) and Michal Postava (.936 in 15g in AHL) or Carter Gylander (.943 SA% in 7g in AHL and .908 in 19g in ECHL) for Braden Schnieder. I think Schnieder would do better for the up-and-coming Wings, saving him from the shame of the NY Rangers. 😁
Sounds like one of those trades that only a fellow named Trotz or Poile would make:
“Here, take my ripe, Schneider mango tree, and all I want back are a couple of pear seeds.”
Well give you McMann, and Reilly for a top prospect and picks. Still plenty of cap space to make additions.
Yeah, well Reilly has to want to go…..somewhere else. I think he could come cheaper because of his contract having 4 more years after this one. Reilly and Chiarot might work on the 2nd pair, both can play the off side, but will one agree to be more defensive?????? On second thought, put both Chiarot and ASP on the 3rd and bring Johanson up to play with Reilly on the 2nd.
I like McMann, but he is not worth a 1st.
2 2nds and a good prospect like Lombardi for the pair would be enough, as Reilly is also a cap dump.
Hamilton would make sense if he wasn’t having a poor season, but he is. Faulk — having a better season and a pretty team-friendly cap hit — should come more expensively, but it isn’t as if Detroit doesn’t have the capital for it.
I wouldn’t put Chiarot in even third pairing category. He is an anchor for whom ever he is paired with . Kane’s overall game is brutal . A liability in almost every category at this stage . I would look toward Dickenson and Murphy in Chicago . If Columbus falls off maybe Coyle but I hear they are bullish to sign him . Coleman from Calgary would be prime bit I have a feeling he will have a heavy price tag . Pittsburgh has one of the toughest schedules after the break and if they struggle to finish Brazeau wouldn’t be a bad look . On D Weegar is rumoured to be out there and although he has struggled this year , I would chalk that up as more of a product of the team he plays for as he has been very good his whole career
I won the Stanley cup with Detroit in NHL 24 by trading Kasper (then their top prospect) for Weegar straight-up. I also got Vatrano for idk what. Vatrano won the Conn Smythe lol and Weegar had a hat trick in one of the Stanley Cup games.
Make believe is a whole different thing. Come back to reality, if you can…..
Besides, the Ducks are in a playoff spot, they would not give up Vatrano.
As is evident from my post, this was in video game 2 years ago. Ever had fun, buddy?
Verbeek would give away Vatrano if he could, he is funking up their Cap next year and beyond. Way overpaid for the role he is in now, will be a healthy scratch next year if he is still on the roster.
You did not say the time frame, Fun buddy.
Going out on a limb here, but I believe that NHL 24 was the clue.
Probert would’ve been in favor of adding some more Kane to the Wings’ locker room.
No way Wings trade away any goalie but Talbot, which I don’t think they will for their playoff run.
It’s time to finally see what Amadeus Lombardi, Carter Mazur, and Shai Buium can bring back in return.
While many want to see F acquisitions and changes to D line ups and even back up G changes, the fact remains that the Wings are on the cusp of making a playoff appearance in years. They are 33 – 19 – 6 on season at this point, and 5 – 3 – 2 last 10 games, despite a few really poor game performances and a missing Edvinsson. There is some upside left with Larkin and Kane that needs to come out. Other than back up G, there is likely only high caution in making changes otherwise.