The Detroit Red Wings are in the market to upgrade their team but not hemorrhage the team’s future.
It’s a difficult position that general manager Steve Yzerman finds himself in, but one that he seems to thrive in. Yzerman, both as a general manager and as a player, has shown that he thrives under pressure. This tightrope he’s walking is a very delicate one. Not improving the team now could lead to mediocrity, while selling the farm could lead to a hot flame that burns out in no time. Neither scenario helps the Detroit Red Wings as they build their future dynasty.
Yzerman must find players that fit his mold and, ideally, fast forward the rebuilding process.
Especially with the Detroit Red Wings’ lack of luck in the National Hockey League (NHL) Draft Lottery, it’s become even more challenging to find superstar-level talent. While we have young players stepping up, a guy like Lucas Raymond who is challenging the notion that the Detroit Red Wings lack a true superstar-level player, is helping to mitigate the need for a blockbuster trade (one in which a team usually loses big-time).
Players abound across the NHL who should draw the eyes of the Detroit Red Wings, while there are other options that the Detroit Red Wings need to pass on for any number of reasons.
Here are three trade or pass candidates for the Detroit Red Wings
As much as I wanted to include the NHL’s most eligible bachelor (in terms of the players available for trade--not actual relationship status), Vancouver Canucks superstar forward Elias Pettersson (Petey), I’m taking a break from writing about him. Instead, let’s focus on some new candidates.
The caveat here is the trade package would have to be right for a trade (essentially, a trade at the right price). Also, if I don’t want to trade for a player, it does not mean they are a bad player. In most cases, I think the Detroit Red Wings aren’t the right fit for every player. It doesn’t do any parties involved any good if the Detroit Red Wings and the player are incompatible.
1. Erik Karlsson
As cool as the dream of Erik Karlsson in The Winged Wheel, it dances across my mind frequently, it’s not something that the Detroit Red Wings will explore much.
Plenty of teams will trip over themselves to get Karlsson. Regardless of age or contract, Karlsson’s history speaks for itself across the NHL. He’s an offensively-minded defenseman. Although he’s touted as a defenseman, he doesn’t defend all that well. There are better statistics out there to prove it, but to put it simply, Karlsson is a -114 in his career, according to the NHL website, as a defenseman. On the flip side, Karlsson scored 194 times and earned 656 assists for a total of 850 points in 1,055 games played in the NHL.
Based on the statistics from the NHL website as well, the offense Karlsson brings is enticing and undeniable. Since the 2014-15 season, Karlsson sits third in total points among defensemen during the regular season playing in just 740 games (versus the leader Roman Josi, who has played in 783 games with 647 points, and Victor Hedman, who has played in 767 with 624 total points among the defensive group). Karlsson’s passport, hailing from Sweden, is a favorite of the Detroit Red Wings.
My reasons for the Detroit Red Wings not trading for Karlsson lend more to the idea that the team’s system and player may be mismatched. The Detroit Red Wings system has improved with their new head coach, Todd McLellan, however, it’s still not at a point where an offensive defenseman would flourish (or even play well).
As an example, Shayne Gostisbehere and Erik Gustafsson have tried their luck with the Detroit Red Wings. While both have had moments of success, throughout most of the season they aren’t as impactful as they are within other team’s systems. They seem to struggle with a demand for two-way focus, neither providing sufficient defense nor having the freedom to do their thing in the offensive zone. I don’t particularly blame anyone, it just seems like the only defensemen the Detroit Red Wings gravitate toward is guys with a two-way mindset.
Benefit to trade: Provide unique offense from the blueline
Drawback: Incompatible with Detroit Red Wings system
Verdict: Pass
2. Topi Niemelä
Initial Thoughts:
Jumping to the Toronto Maple Leafs, they have a possible right-handed defenseman available to trade who is just turning 23 in March. Once full of promise within the Toronto Maple Leafs system, it seems as though tensions are building with Topi Niemelä.
Joshua Kloke with The Athletic cites two areas of opportunity in his toolkit: “strength and speed” according to Hayley Wickenheiser of the Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager.
There’s a concern that he is pushed off of pucks, not taking hold of a spot on a competitive NHL team, and is stagnating in his development. There’s even a quote mentioning that 31 other NHL teams are watching who could provide Niemelä with an opportunity to play.
These various NHL organizations are weird to me. Answering a question honestly could be as easy as, Niemelä has the areas to continue to improve upon, leaving it at that. Behind closed doors, members of leadership within the organization can elaborate further I’m not sure when the public should know about these situations, as it should be a simple discussion between leadership and the player. It seems rude and unprofessional to say things about their own player like this.
Even at the lower points within the Detroit Red Wings organization, Steve Yzerman maintained a professional composure. The situation with Filip Zadina, as an example, was delicate and challenging for all parties involved. Yzerman could have bad-mouthed Zadina to the public, but I didn’t once hear him say anything negative. He continued to build Zadina up as long as he could. Ultimately, Zadina moved on from the Detroit Red Wings, but I appreciate how the situation was handled given the crazy things I’m seeing from management around the NHL. I’m not sure how people are still employed when they talk so poorly about people they are meant to be supporting.
As for the specific player, I assume the Toronto Maple Leafs organization has the same level of top-tier development staff. It does concern me if Niemelä has not been able to add weight even with the Toronto Maple Leafs support.
The smarts Niemelä is touted to have, though, draw me in, and I am curious to learn more. The Detroit Red Wings love their players with high hockey IQ. His positioning intrigues me even more. The Detroit Red Wings don’t have many right-handed shooting defensive prospects within their pipeline. This fact lures me even more.
It would depend on the trade pieces involved, but Niemelä’s availability would be worth the phone call I imagine.
Benefit to Trade: Plays a position of need
Drawback: Concern he may not be able to bulk up for NHL play
Verdict: Trade
3. Brock Boeser
Initial Thoughts:
A right-shooting right winger for the Vancouver Canucks, it seems like the Detroit Red Wings organization has been linked to Brock Boeser forever. Okay, since his draft in 2015. I remember hearing about how the Detroit Red Wings passed on him in favor of Evgeny Svechnikov (older brother of Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes). I think I speak for most of the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins fans when I say that I appreciated Svechnikov’s game. It was a shame that Svechnikov had injuries that derailed his NHL career. A deeply competitive, funny, and endearing personality won our hearts.
How different would the Detroit Red Wings look with Boeser in place of Svechnikov? We would have a tenured NHL player. Boeser also seems like a popular locker room guy as well.
Per the NHL website linked above, Boeser has played in 523 games with 195 goals and 222 assists for 417 points. His -22 rating doesn’t instill confidence in his defensive game, but he’s an offensively-minded winger who can provide much-needed scoring depth on an NHL team. There isn’t anything that really stands out about Boeser’s game, though.
Genuinely, he seems like a nice guy who wants to play the game that he loves. At the same time, I think the Detroit Red Wings have plenty of players who fit the same bill. To give up assets to obtain Boeser seems like a negative add for the Detroit Red Wings, unfortunately. If he were a free agent signing for a million or two dollars, I would be very interested, but not in a trade (unless it’s a one-for-one tenured NHL player who might prefer to play outside of the Detroit Red Wings organization, but no picks, young players, or prospects should go back to the Vancouver Canucks in this kind of a trade).
I reckon the Vancouver Canucks would ask for much more in a Boeser trade, so it likely won’t work for both parties involved.
Benefit to Trade: Provides depth scoring
Drawback: Defensively may not be sound
Verdict: Pass
Who do you agree or disagree with? What players might you want to discuss further? Let us know!