I wouldn't say the Detroit Red Wings are at a crossroads, but this has been such a crock-pot-style slow-cook rebuild that, all these years later, sees the organization atop the highly contested Atlantic Division with Christmas nearing.
For the better part of the first half, I've been waiting for the letdown, but it hasn't come. Perhaps, with his first full season behind the bench, Todd McLellan has this team performing as a legit playoff team rather than the pretenders they've been in years past. Now, we still have a long way to go, and that includes March sadness (as in years past).
Despite being one of the better teams in the Atlantic Division to this point in the season, the Detroit Red Wings still have a few roster discrepancies that need to be addressed if general manager Steve Yzerman hopes to finally guide his club to its first playoff berth in nine years.
One area the Red Wings need to improve is on the backend. After failing to acquire superstar Quinn Hughes, I offer four options, including two directions Yzerman can go to improve the team's defensive core. Yzerman may have an opportunity to make a blockbuster deal, or he may elect to make a depth move that will cost far less and slightly improve the group in a more specific metric.
A franchise altering move that will pay dividends in the short-term
At 35 years old, Roman Josi remains one of the NHL’s elite defensemen. Entering the final two years of his current contract, which carries an annual cap hit of $9.059 million, Josi’s availability would signal a seismic shift for any contender. Does that fit Detroit's current situation? Are the Red Wings for real?
At 35, this is a short-term payoff, but if Detroit feels they have enough to win a round or two, adding Josi not only takes some pressure off Seider but also makes him Detroit's second-best defender. The Predators currently sit sixth in the Central Division with 34 points, so electing to trade their captain could not only alleviate some salary, but also speed up a much-needed rebuild with a plethora of youth and prospects going the other way in a potential deal.
A top pairing of Josi and Seider quickly becomes one of the league's top pairings. It also lengthens Detroit's backend, moving Simon Edvinsson down with rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Or, McLellan has the opportunity to leave Edvinsson with Seider and pair Josi with ASP, only enhancing the depth. That moves Chiarot down to the third group, where he's better suited.
This season, Josi has posted two goals and 15 points through 23 games, maintaining a minus-7 rating and averaging just a touch over 23 minutes per game. His Corsi For percentage (CF%) sits at 55%, indicating strong possession numbers despite being on a poor team. His Expected Goals For Percentage (xGF%) sits at 54%. Josi’s blend of puck-moving ability, leadership, and power-play proficiency, where he's averaging over 3 minutes per night, would instantly elevate Detroit’s top pair. The acquisition cost would be steep, but the return—a bona fide number-one defender—justifies the investment for a franchise seeking to accelerate its window.
Another franchise changing deal, with positive long-term implications.
This seems like a long shot, but with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the tank and some recent comments suggesting a change would be welcomed, perhaps Steve Yzerman should pick up the phone and see what it would take to land star defenseman Zach Werenski.
Werenski, a good friend of Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, has two more years left on his current deal, which averages $9.58 million annually. Recently, Werenski expressed his displeasure with Columbus' current losing ways.
#CBJ D Zach Werenski cut to the core of the matter after the loss to Minnesota: "I feel like it's the same thing we've been saying. We're playing well enough to win, but it's getting old that we keep losing. Enough is enough. It's unacceptable, and I get the whole thing where you…
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 19, 2025
Now, don't take what I am suggesting out of context; I know that's what the internet does. I understand Werenski isn't demanding a trade, but where there is smoke, there is fire. Sometimes players get frustrated with their current situation and seek a fresh start. Could that happen with Werenski? Nothing is impossible.
Werenski, 28, is in his prime and has delivered impressive results for a rebuilding Columbus squad. He has recorded 14 goals and 26 assists in 35 games, averaging nearly 28 minutes per night. Werenski’s analytical profile is equally strong: his CF% stands at 52.2, and his xGF (52.0) ranks top among Blue Jackets defenders. Notably, Werenski drives offense from the back end, quarterbacking the power play and excelling in transition. Acquiring Werenski would be a blockbuster move, solidifying Detroit’s top pairing for years and providing the mobility and scoring punch the Red Wings currently lack, but it would take a boatload of assets to land him in any potential trade.
Third-pairing depth with size and reliability
We all know Steve Yzerman loves size on the backend. I present Jaime Oleksiak. The 6-foot-7 defensive, gritty tower could bring some much-needed depth to Detroit's third pairing.
If Yzerman is seeking size and stability rather than star power, Oleksiak offers an intriguing depth solution. The 33-year-old is signed through 2027 at a reasonable $4 million AAV. Oleksiak’s 2025-26 campaign includes two goals and five points, along with a plus-4 rating in 31 games, averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time per game with the Seattle Kraken.
His CF% is just 46.1, but a 68.2% defensive zone start percentage highlights his shutdown capabilities. While not flashy, Oleksiak brings physicality (46 hits, 48 blocked shots), penalty-killing acumen, and a steady presence to the third pairing. For Detroit, this move would shore up its bottom pair, add playoff-tested experience, and enable greater lineup flexibility.
Dependable depth for defensive stability
Connor Murphy, 32, is another viable depth candidate if the Detroit Red Wings look to go this route. With two years left on his $4.4 million AAV contract, Murphy has contributed no goals, three assists, and a minus-6 rating over 35 games this season for the Blackhawks.
His CF% (44.1) is modest, but he excels at suppressing high-danger chances, as evidenced by his 1.98 expected-goals against per 60 minutes. Murphy’s 36 hits and 48 blocked shots reinforce his reputation as a reliable, physical defender. For the Red Wings, Murphy would provide insurance against injury, a 6-foot-4 right-handed shot that would pair nicely with Albert Johansson, plus reinforce Detroit's penalty killing.
The Blackhawks are an improving team, but are not quite ready to be taken serious in the west, so moving a veteran depth defenseman wouldn't be unreasonable.