Detroit Red Wings Trade Deadline Chatter: Who is staying, who is going?

Gustav Nyquist- Going

Gustav Nyquist is expected to be the most desired rental skater the Detroit Red Wings possess.  He’s thrived this playing as a set-up man in the absence of Henrik Zetterberg, rather than a sniper.  His goal scoring production has been down, but his point production remains solid.

Nyquist is on pace to produce 70 points this season which would be a personal career-high marker for him.  His previous career high was 54 points in 2014/15.  While he’s only notched 12 goals thus far this season, he has a chance to achieve 20 or more goals for the fourth time in his career.  His season CF% is respectable especially playing on a rebuilding team at 52.4%.

Gustav Nyquist is still only 29-years-old and will draw a lot of interest from teams looking to add a rental top-six forward during the playoff stretch.  He would provide terrific depth to any team already stacked if he gets bumped to the third line.

Say a team like the Boston Bruins or the Toronto Maple Leafs find a way to add Gus; he’d likely play on the third line and PP.  He brings security to Cup contenders being able to play either wing on any of a teams top three lines.  Injuries can always occur and having a guy comfortable in all situations is a wonderful asset to have.

Gustav Nyquist has the Ken Holland “special” attached to his contract.  He has a no-trade clause and would need to be willing to waive it in order for the Detroit Red Wings to move him.  Similar to Jimmy Howard, Ken Holland had expressed earlier in the season it would take a first-round pick to acquire Nyquist.

Holland, a General Manager with a reputation of resigning his own and being loyal to a fault, needs to right the ship and piggyback off what most consider an exceptional draft and continue to fill the cupboard with young prospects and future draft picks.

Nyquist is in line for a hefty payday come July 1st, and there is no guarantee the Detroit Red Wings will be willing to spend what it will take to retain him.  Detroit currently has a number of young forwards expected to break out over the next couple of seasons and are more likely to spend money this summer on a defenseman rather than a long-term deal with a forward.  They also need to budget themselves to resign AA, Mantha, and Bertuzzi in two summers from now.

My potential landing spots: Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins,  Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche