Red Wings: 6 (Way-Too-Early) Candidates for the ’21-’22 Trade Deadline

The Detroit Red Wings will be in a familiar situation on this year’s trade deadline: a rebuilding team looking to sell for future assets. With plenty of depth players and expiring contract this year, Detroit will certainly have some trade bait at the ready.

Forwards

Adam Erne is the clear-cut best choice for a trade candidate at the deadline. If he can match the scoring he achieved in 2021 (Led the team with 11 goals, with an additional nine assists), his fourth line production will be a huge get for a team looking to make some noise in the playoffs. Not to mention his current contract, which is just $2.1 million aav for the next two seasons; a very reasonable price to pay for such an effective bottom-six forward, especially if Detroit is willing to retain salary.

Vadislav Namestnikov is another player that could be dealt at the deadline. He’s not too flashy and he wouldn’t secure a very large haul, but his ability to play solid hockey on just about any line he’s put on could very well entice a team into buying. This is Namestnikov’s last year on contract with Detroit, sitting at a very reasonable $2 million. Again, Yzerman could make the deal just a bit more attractive some salary retention.

Sam Gagner is almost a combination of the two aforementioned depth forwards – he has some of Namestnikov’s line versatility and some of Erne’s scoring/offensive ability. At 32 years old, Gagner also has that veteran experience that GMs always crave at the deadline. At just $850,000 in the last year of his contract, Gagner is another cheap way to give a bit of a boost to a good team’s fourth line.

Defensemen

Although the no-move clause complicates things, Marc Staal could find himself shipped off at the deadline. Somewhat surprisingly, there was a decent amount of rumors surrounding the aged defenseman heading into last year’s trade deadline and he could find himself in the same situation if he’s just as effective with Troy Stecher again.

Stecher is probably the most desirable Detroit defenseman likely on sale at the deadline. Stech is an unrestricted free agent after this year and the team’s treatment doesn’t seem to really match his level of play. He was a healthy scratch last season and was not on Detroit’s protection list for the expansion draft. Yzerman may want to get of a return on the defender instead of a potential walk in free agency.

Nick Leddy is also an option for the deadline, but his price tag might be a bit too high for teams. Unless he has a massive rebound with the Red Wings this year, his $5.5 million cap hit might be a bit much for cap-crunched teams to handle, even with salary retention.

Detroit’s first few deadline deals last season were overshadowed by the blockbuster Anthony Mantha trade, but the fourth and fifth round picks received for depth defensemen Jon Merrill and Patrik Nemeth gave GM Steve Yzerman a little more capital to play with in the draft. Fans have seen what Yzerman can pull off with some extra draft picks – and he could snag a couple more for the 2022 NHL Draft with some of the Wings depth players.

Contract information sourced from Capfriendly.com