Detroit Red Wings: 5 forwards to pursue via trade ahead of the NHL Draft

The Detroit Red Wings are expected to be busy this summer. General manager Steve Yzerman recently spoke to the media and, like always, diverted expectations and continued to drive home the belief of building a competitive roster from within.

Yzerman is big on using draft capital to build a sustainable foundation. What does that mean exactly? It means rather than going out and overpaying for talent in free agency, Yzerman wants to draft and develop Detroit’s foundation, but by doing it that way, things take time. Time is something that isn’t necessarily running out for Yzerman because I am of the belief that he has as much time as he wants or needs from owner Christopher Ilitch. But it’s time for the Red Wings to take a significant step forward, whether that is making a blockbuster trade or signing a big-named productive free agent to accelerate Detroit’s rebuild. Dylan Larkin must have a sore back from carrying Detroit’s offense this past season; the man needs support.

This summer’s free-agent pool is about as weak as I’ve seen. With the abundance of trade rumors and talented players being made available, I sure feel that Yzerman will pull off some blockbuster deal leading up to or during the 2023 NHL Entry Level Draft. Yzerman recently mentioned that he anticipates using both of Detroit’s first-round selections next week rather than dealing them, but don’t forget, Yzerman usually holds his cards close to the vest and rarely tips his hand. Like most general managers, Yzerman won’t tell the media what he is thinking or planning to do. Take everything from his pre-draft press conference with a grain of salt.

The obvious trade target is Alex DeBrincat. You can read more about my thoughts in the link. DeBrincat is a Michigan kid, a two-time 41-goal scorer, and only 25 years old. I’ve also talked about how impactful William Nylander would be to the Detroit Red Wings if they could secure his services, but they should buy cautiously.

Let’s explore some additional trade options for the Detroit Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings must consider making a blockbuster deal to acquire Clayton Keller.

Clayton Keller, 24, is a tremendous talent, and his future with the Arizona Coyotes is somewhat in limbo. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported in May that Keller’s representatives met with the Coyotes brass to discuss the star forward’s future with the organization. Friedman went on to mention that Keller’s agents did not formally request a trade, but it seems the two sides are trying to right the ship that appears to be anchored in rough water.

Keller, a Masterton Trophy finalist this season thanks to a career year where he posted 37 goals and 86 points for the Coyotes this past season following a shortened season a year ago after suffering a broken leg. In that shortened season, Keller recorded 28 goals, 35 assists, and 63 points over 67 games.

The dynamic scorer is a first-round selection of the Coyotes (no. 7 overall) way of Boston College in the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft.

Like Alex DeBrincat, Keller is precisely the type of player the Detroit Red Wings urgently need to add this summer. Keller would fit nicely on Detroit’s top line playing alongside captain Dylan Larkin and the crafty Lucas Raymond. It goes without saying Keller is young enough to fit Yzerman’s current plan, which is very important. Also, what kind of star player wants to play in a sub-5,000-seat home arena?

Here’s some even better news; Keller is signed through 2027-28 with a fair average annual value of $7.2 million. If Yzerman is willing to part with a premium prospect, perhaps Jonatan Berggren, in a trade package, it needs to be in exchange for an impact player like Keller.

The Detroit Red Wings should consider trading for Travis Konecny.

The Philadelphia Flyers are rumored to be open for business as they begin an expected re-tool following a blockbuster deal that sent Ivan Provorov to Columbus. In addition to fielding calls on starting goaltender Carter Hart, who had been labeled the next Carey Price upon entering the league, and veteran forward Kevin Hayes, forward Travis Konecny is the latest name to surface in trade talks.

Konecny plays like a ball of fire; he’s just 5-foot-10 but is feisty by nature. The 26-year-old London, Ontario native is forward is a hard-working player Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman would love to add. Konecny is coming off a breakthrough year where he recorded a career-high 31 goals; that offensive production, paired with his age and continuous on-ice effort, is something Detroit will be seeking this summer.

Remember, the message being sent to the media from the Detroit brass at each level following the regular season had been pronounced. Yzerman, Dylan Larkin, and head coach Derek Lalonde all mentioned that the Detroit Red Wings needed to get tougher in the offseason. All cited that didn’t mean adding players that can only fight or, as Yzerman said, beat people up; Detroit wants to add players that are tough to play against.

Konecny can help the Detroit Red Wings on the power play and the penalty kill. His 31 goals and 61 points over 60 games this past season tied a career-high from 2019-20 when he totaled 61 points in 66 games. Konecny has two years left on his contract, carrying a very affordable $5.5 million cap hit.

The Detroit Red Wings have their fair share of sub-6-foot wingers, but Konecny plays with a bit of an edge and won’t shy away from stirring the pot on the ice. He’d fit nicely with Larkin and Raymond on Detroit’s top line but maybe even better with Marco Kasper (if he’s plugged in as the second-line center) and Michael Rasmussen or Andrew Copp. It might take a combination of pick no. 17 and a second-rounder, in a package of perhaps Joe Veleno or Filip Zadina, to secure Konecny.

The Detroit Red Wings should ‘run it back’ with the Vancouver Canucks.

Nobody quite knows what the Vancouver Canucks are doing. Vancouver sent their captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders this past season ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline. The Canucks secured a first-round pick in the deal and used that, along with a second-round selection, to add Filip Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit also sent a fourth-round choice back to the Canucks in the deal, but landing the No. 17th overall pick in the upcoming draft is a massive windfall for Yzerman and the Red Wings.

I know many of you are expecting to see J.T. Miller here, but at 30 years old and his recent eight-year $56-million extension that he signed this past season really doesn’t warrant the assets that would be required to part with to secure his services.

The Detroit Red Wings need to consider adding winger Brock Boeser. I mentioned this months ago before the NHL Trade Deadline, and it didn’t go over well among Detroit Red Wings fans. Although Boeser doesn’t move the needle for many, he does check a few boxes.

He’s a 20-plus goal scorer in four of his six full seasons with the Canucks. This past season, Boeser’s goal-scoring dipped a bit, but he still achieved 18 goals and 55 points over 74 games. That production followed back-to-back 23-goal seasons, and he did record 29 goals as a rookie. Boeser is only 26 years old, so he does fit Detroit’s time frame to compete. He’s due a steep $6.65 million annually over the next two seasons, but it is endurable. The Detroit Red Wings will have roughly $ 30 million in cap space this off-season.

A change of scenery may do Boeser a world of good. The Detroit Red Wings need to add another right-handed forward, as the only two currently rostered are David Perron and Lucas Raymond. Boeser isn’t in the same category as Alex DeBrincat or Clayton Keller, and he is not a pest or physical like Konecny. Still, he could be a nice consolation prize if nothing materializes with those forwards.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted during the season that Boeser’s agent Ben Hankinson had been granted permission to speak with other teams about a potential trade. This is something the Detroit Red Wings need to explore.