Detroit Red Wings: 3 bold trade targets for this off-season

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The Detroit Red Wings are heading into year five of the “Yzerplan” and have yet to make an appearance in the postseason. Although patience was preached from the very start, there has been a sense of restlessness within the fanbase to have something to show for the process nearly half a decade later.

Last year’s offseason was Steve Yzerman‘s offseason of bold decisions for the Detroit Red Wings. He hired a new head coach in Derek Lalonde, went on a spending spree in free agency, adding some key players to the lineup, and took a swing in the draft at a potential second-line center in Marco Kasper.

Heading into this offseason, the organization will come to a crossroads; keep steady with the slow rebuild or make one more bold move to give this team that extra firepower in an attempt to make their first playoff berth in eight years.

With an upcoming free agency pool that is lackluster, to say the least, and a minuscule 10% chance at winning Connor Bedard or Adam Fantilli in the draft. The odds are low, so the Red Wings may have to make a splash elsewhere.

Let’s look at the potential bold moves that Yzerman should be targeting in the trade market if he’s going to make a move or two this off-season. There are some possible moves or players that he should be checking in on. They’re bold names that the Red Wings should think about trading for this off-season, even if it turns into a bigger trade package from Yzerman.

Here are three players the Detroit Red Wings should target.

Apr 2, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing Alex DeBrincat (12) lines up for a face-off during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Red Wings should bring Alex DeBrincat home to Michigan.

This is arguably the hottest name on the Detroit Red Wings fans’ wish lists over the past week or so. A Michigan native, Alex Debrincat, is rumored not to be happy with the Ottawa Senators and will be looking to move on when he is able to do so.

He is currently a restricted free agent (RFA). All signs point to him being given a qualifying offer, almost certainly solidifying his place on the Senators roster for one more season. However, that means he is ripe for the picking.

Will Ottawa want to secure him for one year in an attempt to make a playoff run and then lose him for nothing the following season? Or will they try to move him now and capitalize on his value? That’s where the Red Wings can try to jump in and make a move to bring in the offensively gifted forward.

When Debrincat was moved from Chicago to Ottawa last season, the price was a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick. If his price is similar to that, Detroit has the assets to move to acquire him.

Currently, Yzerman has two first-round picks in his pocket and three second-round picks. I would have to believe he would be more than willing to move some of them to acquire something this roster has desperately been missing, a top-end scorer.

Mar 12, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) passes the puck during the second period against Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Red Wings should consider trading for Kyle Connor.

Acquiring Kyler Connor would mean acquiring a talented scorer that Detroit has not had the fortune of dressing in red and white since the days of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. It’s a big ask, but the Detroit Red Wings must consider it.

Another Michigan native, the once 47-goal scorer, fits the timeline for the contending window that is expected for Detroit. At 26 years old, Connor put up 31 goals and 49 assists with Winnipeg this regular season and is currently putting his name on the scoresheets in the playoffs.

The Jets have a roster overflowing with talent and have greatly underperformed in the wins column. Between the need to eventually start paying hefty dollar figures to most of the roster and the pressure on Winnipeg’s management to shake things up in-house, Connor may be worth the high price tag he would carry.

He is one of the few younger players in the league that would be worth taking a bold swing on. It will take a lot, especially for the Jets to part ways with him, but why not consider another former Michigander to bring home and play for the Red Wings?

Mar 12, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie (22) shoots the puck during the first period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Red Wings may want to look into acquiring Tyson Barrie.

Yes, he is on the wrong side of 30 and continuing to go in the wrong direction. No, he is not an offensive weapon. But hear me out; the Detroit Red Wings need to consider trading for Tyson Barrie from the Nashville Predators.

Other than a top-end scorer, the next biggest need on the roster is a right-shot defenseman. With the inevitable departure of Gustav Lindstrom to Europe, the Red Wings have exactly one defenseman who shoots and plays on the right side, Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider.

It must be a priority to fill that void with a solution that does not involve forcing Ben Chiarot or Simon Edvinsson to play on the right side with left-handed shots. There is another free agent option that could be given some thought in Radko Gudas, which would also bring some toughness to the lineup. Being the only player of that archetype in the upcoming free agent pool tends to make me believe he will garnish a lot of interest, thus raising his price.

Next. Red Wings made the right decision with Simon Edvinsson’s contract. dark

With as many trade assets as Yzerman is carrying, he would probably be more interested in making a trade for Barrie, a slightly younger defenseman with a higher offensive upside. The Red Wings need to go out and try and make a move to acquire Barrie, or at least consider it.

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