Red Wings Rumors: Scouting Vegas, Boston, & Pittsburgh Prospects
The Red Wings are going to be sellers yet again in this years upcoming deadline, and there are a multitude of teams looking for help. Today, I take a look at Boston, Vegas, and Pittsburgh and highlight a few names worth asking about.
Boston Bruins
This week, Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was quoted as saying:
“I think we’re a better defensive team makeup in terms of our roster anyways, that’s why our numbers are very good defensively. Offensively, we’re not built to outscore teams but right now, we do need a little more.”
It’s no coincidence that just a few days later, the Athletics’ Fluto Shinzawa reported that the Bruins GM, Don Sweeney, is now on the market for a top nine forward.
Sweeney is reportedly looking for a right-winger, Boston only has $1.7 million left in cap space for the current year. The Bruins would have to add current roster players to any trade deal for a player with a contract over that amount . By the sounds of it, Cassidy is relatively happy with the current roster and is more focused on adding to the team, not taking pieces away.
The Red Wings could oblige with a few players matching what Sweeney is looking for. But like every other deal general manager Steve Yzerman would make, creativity would be involved.
Potential Prospects
The Bruins own multiple great prospects that could be potential targets for the Red Wings. Jack Studnicka (C) and Jakub Lauko are perhaps the most exciting assets – but these are the kind of players that Boston would only move out of desperation. A potential trade for either would also likely have to include multiple picks. Studnicka was recently moved down to the Bruin’s minor league team after starting the season with the team, as he only scored 3 points in the 18 games he played. However, Studnicka has all the skills to make it has a top 6 forward in the league, and the Red Wings need more depth at center in their pipeline. This would be a great get for Yzerman. Although Lauko hasn’t cracked the main roster in Boston yet, he looks like perhaps the best winger in the pipeline, scoring the second most points this season with Boston’s AHL affiliate, Providence.
Oskar Steen could be another possible option. With 8 points in 13 games (3-5), the center who can also play wing could maybe be pried away. In his call-up with Boston a few weeks ago, he was unable to get on the scoresheet. His explosive skating would be welcomed as well as his versatility at center or wing.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have struggled all year with depth scoring. When the top lines aren’t active, there’s much to be desired after them. Although they lead the division, depth scoring is essential if Vegas wants any chance to hoist the Stanley Cup at the end of the season.
With less than $150,000 in deadline cap space, Vegas can’t afford to be picky at the deadline. Any move would require shedding some salary space, be it through placing someone on waivers or including a current member of the roster in a potential trade. For a team that is strapped for cash, the Red Wings would have a few options to offer.
Any addition before the deadline will not be a knee jerk desperation move, it’ll be a calculated roster change to ensure an impenetrable roster before the deep playoff run.
Potential Prospects
It’s unlikely that Vegas will risk top notch prospects for any of the players Detroit has, sans Anthony Mantha if he’s truly available. Any shipping off of top tier prospects would need to include some above average assets. In all likelihood, any Wings trade would garner a mid round pick but for the sake of argument, I’ve included a few prospects the Wings could realistically get
A prospect Detroit could target in the Vegas pipline is Lucas Elvenes. Elvenes considered one of the top tier prospects in the Golden Knight pipeline just last year, but has fallen down most rankings after a less than stellar NHL camp. If Yzerman snags him, he would be buying low, as Elvenes has the elusivness and puck handling skills to make it in the NHL. Equally important for Detroit is that he’s fantastic on the power play.
In the category of reaching a bit, University of Michigan product Brendan Brisson would be a great addition, but one that would be much costlier. Brisson put up 21 points (10-11) in 24 games After such a great year, it’s a bit of a reach to assume that Vegas would part ways with him. But the patient Wolverine with an elite shot could be available to Detroit for the right price. This again would not only involve draft picks, but Yzerman being creative with what he can offer personnel wise.
While Vegas and Boston have options, it’s the final team that could potentially cough something up as they try to beat Father Time for one more Cup.
Pittsburgh Penguins
With Brian Burke and Ron Hextall now manning the front office, the Red Wings could definitely inquire as the Pens are nearing the end of a dominant decade. With the contender window closing, could Yzerman get a few assets since the Penguins are low on draft picks?
Potential Prospects
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler has the Penguins pegged at 29th in terms of prospects, hardly shocking for a team that has been all in and has three Cups to show for it. For the right price, who could the Red Wings possibly pluck away? Pittsburgh, according to Cap Friendly, has just north of $1M deadline cap room.
Samuel Poulin clocks in as the top prospect in the system, and Wheeler has him pegged as third liner, with potential to be more. Would getting a veteran presence to go deep in the playoffs along with maybe a sweetener do it? Poulin has 24 points (7-17) in 17 games in his fifth year with Val d’Or Foreurs in the Q. How will his transition to a “men’s” league work out? That remains to be seen. Maybe that opens the door for a potential deal for a team looking to add more hardware as their core ages.
One other option: 19-year-old goalie Joel Blomqvist. The Red Wings are thin in goaltending depth and while he was Pittsburgh’s second round pick last season, he could be another option along with Keith Petruzzelli. Goalies are a different beast when it comes to development, and knowing that neither Burke or Hextall drafted him, an argument could be made for the outside chance to snag him.
One other option a bit further down on Wheeler’s list: Josh Maniscalco. A right hand shot who Wheeler essentially described as a jack of all trades. He stands 6’2 and according to Wheeler has a heavy shot. Yzerman is known for stacking his blue line with bigger frames and hard shooters. Detroit could let him develop a bit in Grand Rapids as well.
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Regardless of what they do, the Red Wings won’t be void of a number of options. It’ll be finding that right match, in a slew of sellers, for them to add more weapons to one of the deepest prospect pools in hockey.