Detroit Red Wings trade deadline primer: Buyers or sellers in 2022-23?

It may be early to start kicking the tires on trade deadline musings, but at the same time, this season feels like a revamped and improved Detroit Red Wings team. For that reason, it might be worth discussing some possibilities for what this trade deadline could bring.

Characteristically speaking, the Detroit Red Wings have been someone you hammer a “seller” stamp on each season. The Red Wings have been in a position to sell off some assets and try to recoup some assets.

Whether it be players like Jakub Vrána in the Anthony Mantha trade during the 20202-21 season or draft capital as seen in 2021-22 when they acquired draft capital for Vladislav Namestnikov. But now, in 2022-23, the team is starting to compete, and it looks like they are piecing things together.

It’s early, but it seems like the Red Wings may be on the buyer’s side of the ledge rather than selling off assets again. Steve Yzerman will ultimately make some decisions, but I would not be shocked if he tries to bring in assets to help be competitive rather than selling them off.

Detroit Red Wings may be a buyer this year rather than a seller.

The Red Wings are not heading down a road where they mortgage a package of picks, including at least one first-rounder for Patrick Kane. However, making some additions and doing something that could help the team continue to move in the right direction.

After 27 games, the Red Wings have 32 points on the year and are fourth in the Atlantic Division. They trail the Boston Bruins, who are off to a blazing start with a 22-4-1 record, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who keep charting wins at 18-5-6, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are 17-9-1.

Things could change in a week or two, but the Red Wings are clinging to life in the hunt. They may not be holding down a Wild Card spot right now, but they are in the hunt. It sounds crazy, but as the season continues to roll along, it feels like it’s different than last year.

Maybe this is me just over-analyzing, but it seems that this group appears to be moving in the right direction, and firming up with some trades before the deadline, which is a long way away, might help a ton.

Octopus Thrower’s own Bob Heyrman suggested Brock Boeser be a trade target for the Red Wings. This is a clear-cut example of how the Red Wings could beef things up to help them add to the forward core and help the team compete overall.

Adding some help for the defense core or beefing up the forwards, even more is only going to help. Magnus Hellberg is back and might offer a chance for a new backup netminder, with Alex Nedeljkovic really struggling to find his way right now.

This is all speculation and some banter about what the trade deadline could bring, but without getting too ahead of ourselves. Expect more concrete deadline musings as the season continues, but the way things have started in 2022-23, the Red Wings might just be buyers this year.