Trade Targets the Detroit Red Wings Could Explore this Off-Season

The Detroit Red Wings plan to take their next step in the rebuilding process. Aside from the draft and free agency, Steve Yzerman has assets to make a splash in the trade market.

The Detroit Red Wings are ready to acquire players via trade or free agency to be part of the teams success. The past few seasons, Yzerman added players to be a stop-gap to make the team competitive and teaching his young players how to be pros.

Teams around the league are entering different stages and rebuilds making star players available. The salary cap can also be a factor on teams making moves that the Red Wings may take advantage of.

Could the Red Wings take advantage of gaining a star player from a team that needs depth? Acquire a proven veteran winner? Or someone who just needs a change of scenery? Let us examine three trades that could take the Red Wings to the next level.

Shea Theodore to the Red Wings?

The Red Wings can take a gamble on making a move for Golden Knights defenseman, Shea Theodore.

The Vegas Golden Knights have rolled the dice since their inaugural season regarding their treatment of the salary cap. We saw The Golden Knights primarily miss the playoffs this season due to their constant roster roulette regarding cap constraints. The Knights will make multiple moves this offseason to sign rostered players and build for now and the future.

The Wings have over $30 million in cap space currently being an optimal trade partner for a team that is wavering the lines of being non-compliant.

Why should the Golden Knights consider?

They might not have a choice. Theodore is one of their higher salary players that currently does not have a no-move clause kicked into his contract yet. They need to move cap and could use a nice return.

Why should the Red Wings Consider?

Shea Theodore is an elite puck mover and skater. His experience since being in the league will be beneficial to the young Red Wing blueline. He will be a player to help quarterback the powerplay and plays a puck possession style. His skating abilities will allow the Wings to have better pairing options on the backend to bolster their success to get pucks out of the zone and limit chances in the middle of the ice.

Jeff Petry to the Red Wings?

The Red Wings have a need to bolster their blueline. They also need another veteran presence to give stability to the backend after a disastrous 2021-2022 campaign in what felt like football scores had full display on the jumbotron. Another Michigander could be of use to fill this role.

Jeff Petry may have been one of the best players in Montreal during their trip to the Stanley Cup finals two season ago. Last season, he was subject to ridicule from the fans. His salary moving off the books will help new GM Kent Hughes build the Canadiens in a way that he sees fit. Steve Yzerman will get a veteran D-man who is versatile and can play in all situations. A change of scenery for Petry would not be the worst thing for him either.

Why should the Canadians consider?

Montreal is in need to clear cap space to begin a rebuild. They have the coach and general manager in place. They need a high-end talent to play with Nick Suzuki. Zadina could use a change of scenery. It is a minimal risk that yields a high reward.

Why Should the Red Wings Consider?

Detroit needs defense and veteran leaders in the room. Petry provides the intangibles needed on and off the ice to take the team to the next step. He only has three seasons left on his contract that should not affect the Wings ability to offer their budding stars contracts once their entry level deals expire.