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.

Two Flames forwards the Detroit Red Wings need to consider adding via trade.

On Thursday, it was reported that the Calgary Flames will make Tyler Toffoli available. There is apparently something in the water in Calgary; no one seems to want to play there these days. Last year it was Matthew Tkachuk who made it clear that he wouldn’t sign an extension with the Flames; now, the same goes for Toffoli.

The same goes for three of Calgary’s top players entering the final year of their current contract. Defenseman Noah Hanifin has made it clear he won’t sign an extension and forwards Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm are reportedly favoring not signing an extension beyond this upcoming season.

Lindholm, 28, a former first-round selection ( No. 5) of the Carolina Hurricanes, has blossomed in a top-two center role over the past few seasons with the Flames. Lindholm scored 40 goals and 82 points a year ago and followed it up with 22 goals and 64 points in 80 games this past season. The veteran center has amassed 139 goals and 325 points in 369 games over the past five seasons. In each of the past two years, Lindholm maintained a Corsi For Percentage of 56.0 or better during even-strength play.

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The Swedish-born center could be a perfect compliment to Dylan Larkin, but as he heads into the final year of his current deal that averages $4.85 million per season, he will be looking for a Larkin-like extension next summer. The Detroit Red Wings won’t part with the prospects and picks needed to land a player like Lindholm and not extend him. The 28-year-old fills a glaring need for the Red Wings, who desperately need to find a top-two center, but odds are Yzerman will prefer to seek a younger option.

The Detroit Red Wings should at least kick the tires on winger Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli brings a lot of energy to the lineup and can be a Tyler Bertuzzi-like replacement in Detroit’s top six. The downside, Toffoli is 31 years old. Toffoli is coming off a career year in Calgary, where he recorded 34 goals and 73 points. If Yzerman had been reluctant to extend Bertuzzi ahead of the trade deadline, I don’t see Toffoli fitting Detroit’s current timeline. That doesn’t mean the idea shouldn’t be explored.

Toffoli is entering the final year of a four-year, $17 million contract. He’s a Scarborough, Ont. native, which is just a few hours down Highway 401; that might be taken into consideration as Toffoli mulls over his options over the next year. In addition to his stellar point totals last season, Toffoli maintained a tremendous Corsi For Percentage of 58.7 and a Relative Corsi For of 2.1 during even-strength situations.

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.