The Detroit Red Wings have acquired forwards Wojciech Stachowiak and Michael Milne from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Ian Mitchell. Each player will report to their respective AHL clubs.
It’s a wholly understandable trade by the Red Wings. Now, without Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp for the next few weeks, Detroit has recalled Sheldon Dries, Dominik Shine, Eduards Tralmaks, and Austin Watson over the last few days, leaving the Grand Rapids Griffins without some of their best forwards.
Although Stachowiak isn’t a well-known talent in North America, he certainly is in Germany. The 26-year-old winger has played for Germany in several IIHF World Championships over the past few years, scoring seven goals and accumulating 21 points in 25 games. He also played for Germany at the recent Olympics, recording one assist in two contests.
In 38 games for the Syracuse Crunch this season, Stachowiak has recorded nine goals and 17 points with a -6 rating. Although it’s his first time playing professionally in North America, Stachowiak spent two years at Michigan State University in the late 2010s, scoring four goals and five points in 40 games.
At 23 years old, Milne is a more recognized talent in the AHL compared to Stachowiak. He’s in his fourth professional season after being selected with the 89th overall pick of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. Throughout his AHL career, he has registered 32 goals and 66 points in 191 games with a -35 rating, mostly spent with the Iowa Wild.
Of all the players changing hands in this trade, Mitchell has the most NHL experience. He was in his first year with the Red Wings organization after signing as an unrestricted free agent last summer. In 45 games for the Griffins, the 27-year-old veteran has scored four goals and 20 points with a +27 rating.
Before his time in Michigan, Mitchell spent much of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Earning much of his NHL experience with the Blackhawks, Mitchell recorded four goals and 16 points in 82 games with a -21 rating. After the 2022-23 season, Chicago traded Mitchell, along with Alec Regula, to the Boston Bruins for Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno.
Tampa adding Ian Mitchell isn’t surprising as they get an additional RD in their system and a player with experience who could potentially be used down the line, if needed.
As for Wojciech Stachowiak, I’m a little surprised they decided to trade him as he was rather productive in his first year in the AHL and has potential to be a bottom six guy in the NHL.
Now, with Michael Milne who was brought in mid-season from a trade with Minnesota, it just never clicked while in Syracuse for him. So, nothing shocking in shipping him out by any means.
Mitchell is ineligible to play for the Lightning this season. This transaction is strictly for the AHL teams. And he is a UFA at seasons end. Meaning he means NOTHING to the Lightning. This whole thing is about minor league depth for their playoffs and nothing more.
I know it was primarily for the AHL & their playoffs. I merely forgot about the ineligibility factor at this point in the season. Mitchell may not have anything to do with the Lightning this season, but just because he’s a UFA at the end of the season doesn’t mean they don’t necessarily extend him down the line.
Of course, you had to make sure to shove it in my face about the ineligibility factor by capping “NOTHING” like the a$$hole you typically are on here. Good to know you’re a consistent POS.
You quite often go overboard with your homerism of the Lightning, and now when someone goes neutral with one word emphasized, you get excessively defensive. Wow.
Dude the world isn’t out to get you or your team. Take a breath and realize there are more important things happening on this big blue circle than hockey and its fans. The way I emphasize words isn’t meant as a direct insult to you.
Enjoy Mitchell as your ineligible 8th dman. And likely wouldnt be more than that if extended into future years. If he couldnt make a weak Red Wings d corps, he likely doesnt help a pretty strong Lightning one.
Wings fans are no doubt happy that Yzerman held on to his picks and prospects again instead of using a few of them for a center. 🙄
Who wins ? Detroit’s line up tonight vs. G.R. Griffins ? How awful is this squad on the ice. It’s like fall camp. Team Red vs. Team White. NO DEPTH. Red Wings FAIL again in March. Oh and, don’t give me the injury excuse either.
Just to piss in someone’s cornflakes for their cr happy attitude to start the day…
The Tanner Jeannot trade by the preds is one of the most lopsided and worst trades in the history of the NHL. Probably a top 5 worst trade in league history. How is a 4th liner worth 5 picks?
I’m liking Stachowiak as part of this trade. Speedy winger with international pedigree.