Last year, the Detroit Red Wings mad a blockbuster trade when Anthony Mantha was traded to Washington for Jakub Vrana and two draft picks. Is General Manager Steve Yzerman ready to once again make a splash before the deadline next Monday?
Here are some trades that fans can only dream about prior to the deadline.
Bertuzzi traded to Boston
Trading Tyler Bertuzzi to a contender is a distinct possibility. Many teams will certainly inquire about the rugged forward. In 50 games this year, Bertuzzi has scored 24 goals, 24 assists, 48 points, and a +4 rating. It would be sad to see Bertuzzi go as he is one of my favorite players, but the haul could be enormous.
Similar to the Mantha trade last year, Detroit could pick up a skilled young player and draft picks. A likely destination would be the Boston Bruins. Boston could trade disgruntled forward Jake DeBrusk, a 1st round pick this year, and a 2nd round pick in 2023.
The trade makes sense on many levels. Bertuzzi will be a UFA after the 2023 season. DeBrusk has asked for a trade. Yzerman won’t say it publicly, but with Bertuzzi refusing the Covid-19 vaccine, and missing nine games this year in Canada, he has let down his team and fans.
DeBrusk and draft picks would be a nice haul for Detroit. In 54 games, DeBrusk has 15 goals, 10 assists, 25 points, and a -2 rating. DeBrusk could immediately play in Detroit’s top six. DeBrusk is also more than a year younger than Bertuzzi and currently carries a cap hit just over $3.6M annually. This trade would save the Red Wings over $1M next year.