The Detroit Red Wings enter the 2025 NHL Draft with the 13th overall pick. That’s not bad considering the Wings have found gems in the middle of the first round.
Current team captain Dylan Larkin was the 15th overall pick in the 2014 draft. He’s gone on to produce 242 goals and 576 points in 734 games.
Not too shabby when considering that the latter half of the first round doesn’t always yield franchise players.
So, that brings us to the 2025 NHL Draft and the Red Wings’ 13th overall pick. While the Wings can hold on to it and take a player like Brady Martin, as projected by Tankathon, the club might be tempted to part with that pick and use it to revamp the line.
So, let’s take a look at three perfect trade partners for the Detroit Red Wings 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
3 trade partners for the Detroit Red Wings 13th overall pick
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have just two picks in the entire 2025 NHL Draft, a fifth and seventh-rounders. That’s it.
As such, the Avalanche may be compelled to get back into the first round to restock their prospect pool. While trading for a top-10 pick might be out of the question, the 13th pick wouldn’t be such a ludicrous idea.
The Avalanche have a number of interesting roster players who could interest the Red Wings. For instance, Ross Colton, Sam Malinski, or Ivan Ivan could provide some added punch and depth to the Wings’ lineup.
Now, this wouldn’t be a straight-up, one-for-one deal. It would have to be a package deal. But the opportunity to add impact players who could help as soon as next season might be too good to pass up.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have a first-round pick this year. That pick belongs to the Chicago Blackhawks and is currently projected to be the 30th overall pick. That’s essentially a second-rounder and might not have much face value.
Depending on where the Maple Leafs’ playoff run ends, they may be willing to make a bold move to get back into the first round and get a high-quality prospect.
Now, let me go out on a limb and say this: If the Leafs are certain they will not re-sign Mitch Marner this summer, why not trade for his rights in exchange for the 13th overall pick?
Barring a trade involving Marner, the Leafs could entice the Wings with a mix of roster players and later-round picks. Veterans like David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, along with serviceable blue liners like Dakota Mermis or Marshall Rifai could grease the wheels.
Like the Avalanche, the Leafs will need to overwhelm the Wings with a package in order to part with the first-rounder. But then again, if the Leafs wash out of this year’s playoffs, the Wings could pounce on an impending shakeup in Toronto.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues pushed the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets to the brink in the first round of this year’s playoffs. If the Blues had pulled it off, it would have been the biggest upset of this year’s playoffs.
However, that didn’t happen and the Blues went packing after the first round. That is why St. Louis could be compelled to make a splash. With the 19th pick, the Blues might be enticed to swap picks with the Red Wings.
As the Blues move up to 13, the Wings trade down to 19, and pick up another solid player. Tankathon projects Braeden Cootes at 19th, essentially giving the Wings another center with top-six potential, while getting a sweetener for their troubles.
That sweetener could be a roster player or additional draft picks. The Blues only have two other picks in this year’s draft, but could move one of their two fifth-rounders in 2026 or one of their two fourth-rounders in 2027.
Ultimately, fans shouldn’t be surprised to hear about the Red Wings getting calls for their first-rounder. Plenty of GMs out there will do their due diligence, seeing if there’s anything worth looking into. If that’s the case, the Wings could make out like bandits at the 2025 NHL Draft.