The Red Wings need some help if they plan on taking full advantage of that coaching change they made a few months back. Yeah, they’ve been a better hockey team, no doubt, but the Wings have continually slipped up lately, and that should be a cause for concern.
So, how do they break out of this slump? Well, they could find a way to get back on track and do nothing at the trade deadline. But really, what we’re seeing right now is a telltale sign that the Wings are an inconsistent bunch, so I’d recommend rolling with a rental piece (or three) before or on March 7th.
None of the players listed below should cost general manager Steve Yzerman much, and while none of them are big names like Mikko Rantanen, for example, they’re still solid, serviceable players in their own right. Plus, all three players listed below have enjoyed fine seasons, and given their efforts with some not-so-good teams, they’ll be raring to go if they came to Hockeytown.
Who should the Red Wings be looking to spend some draft capital, a player or two, and even some mid-tier prospects on and why?
Ryan Donato, Blackhawks
Ryan Donato might be the hottest name on this list, and while productivity has been an issue for Donato throughout his career, he’s rewritten the script this season. Donato already reached a career-high 43 points and 21 goals, and he’s someone who has worked his way into the top-six at times, averaging 15:22 per contest so far.
One recurring theme you’ll see in this article is physicality, something we need to see more of from the Red Wings. Although they upped the ante some in that debacle of a matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it hasn’t been consistent enough to date. But Donato will give them that consistency, or at least help them out.
Like the next name on this list, a high-intensity player like Donato would relish in an opportunity to join a winning club. He’s been playing for a back-burner franchise for the last two seasons, so a change of scenery, along with his productivity, will go a long way.
The burning question is, what would Donato go for? He's been having his best season to date and he's only in his age-28 campaign. Still, a mid-round pick, and a high-potential prospect may be all it takes to bring Donato to Hockeytown.
Jake Evans, Canadiens
Jake Evans is another center who has lacked production but has recently been one of the better players out there for the still-rebuilding Canadiens. He’s on pace for a career-high in points, and Evans is also on track to set a new record in goals scored if he can find the net just two more times.
That all translates to 12 goals and 28 points for the seasoned but still-young veteran, yet productivity aren’t the only two reasons why I like Evans. He’s a physical player, with 91 hits so far in 2024-25, and Evans can win faceoffs, having taken 52.4 percent of his draws this year.
Also, going from a rebuilding team to one on the verge of snapping their playoff drought would make a welcoming change for Evans. That said, it wouldn’t surprise me if this borderline top-six player ups the intensity even more should he land in Detroit.
I’d be looking for even more productivity in points, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Evans landed between two and three body checks per game down the stretch. Overall, he'd likely go for the same price that I have listed for Donato.
Matt Grzelcyk, Penguins
It would be epic to see the Red Wings land one more blueliner with two-way potential, and Matt Grzelcyk is a hidden gem here. While it’s true he’s never snagged over 30 points in a season, that hasn’t been the case this year, as Grzelcyk looks bound to put up even more whether he sticks with the Penguins or ends up somewhere like Detroit.
He’s got just one goal on the season, but his 29 assists jumped out at me. Plus, how many blueliners out there have playoff experience to Grzelcyk’s extent? So far, he’s appeared in the postseason 66 times.
While that number has dwindled in recent seasons, Grzelcyk put together quite the postseason resume earlier in his career, making 54 appearances between 2018 and 2021. So, while Grzelcyk isn’t the first blueliner you would think of, he’s enjoying an outstanding year as a playmaker and his experience is priceless.
For Steve Yzerman to collect a player like Grzelcyk, he probably wouldn’t need to give up much more than a mid-round pick.