Alright, so a lot of us will criticize Steve Yzerman for setting the Detroit Red Wings up for mediocrity in 2025-26, whether that's by design of if players are simply avoiding a stay in Hockeytown. I don't know why that'd be the case, since it'd be an honor to wear the winged wheel as opposed to a logo that's not so rich in history and aesthetics, but whatever; it's their loss.
But hey, the offseason ain't over yet. And that's something a lot of fans around the hockey universe forget. So, maybe August 2025 will be the month we see Yzerman make some big moves and change the trajectory of the 2025-26 Red Wings.
Below, you'll find three wild moves Yzerman still has time to pull off. And really, moves I wouldn't be shocked to see him make if he has an opportunity to make them.
1 - He shocks the league with a blockbuster trade
Bryan Rust? Jason Robertson? Rickard Rakell? Hey, there are quite a few forwards who could be on the trade block in August. Before, really. And you know what? Yzerman silences his critics and makes a big trade that will transform the Wings into a potential playoff contender.
Right now, let's be real - the team ain't that good. They'll play respectable hockey, but nobody's picking them to do anything special because they have a gigantic hole in their top six, even if their lower lines could work well with stopgaps like James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton.
There's no doubt Yzerman knows this, and trust me, he's going to be working the phones while other league execs have 'gone fishin'' until late in the month. And yeah, let's get bold and say that Yzerman brings in (hopefully) Jason Robertson, if we're talking about the trio I mentioned above.
2 - Yzerman makes a second, more under-the-radar trade
From a blockbuster trade to one that's more 'under the radar.' What makes this one so 'meh' to the rest of the league while it would hype up Wings fans is that they'll finally do away with either Justin Holl or Erik Gustafsson.
And really, I don't even know why I'm even mentioning Gustafsson since everyone knows I'm talking exclusively about Holl. And Yzerman wouldn't really need to talk another team into taking what's left of his contract; just call up someone who's definitely not making the 2026 playoffs and cleaning house, hand them Holl, and take future considerations in return.
Then, make that trade that most fans won't even notice but every single Red Wings fan worldwide will, bring in that third-pairing defenseman for a mid-round pick and/or a mid-tier prospect, and line them up next to Jacob Bernard-Docker.
Yzerman's a smart guy, and I'm 1,000 percent sure he's got this exact same strategy in mind. If he didn't, I'd be very, very surprised. And again, it's a trade, two really, he'll make without losing because there's nothing to lose except for a bad contract. Yeah, I know, it's not necessarily a loss.
3 - Yzerman brings back a familiar face for depth
You know, Robby Fabbri's still out there. At least that's the case while I'm writing this piece. And yeah, I know, the injuries haven't helped Fabbri, and it's probably why he's still out there as a free agent who'd probably, at this point, make for either a fourth-liner or a 13th/14th forward.
Still, he's got the experience and talent to make an outstanding depth player. And these days, he shouldn't cost a fortune to sign. His previous cap hit resided in the $4 million range, and you can bet just about anything that he'll sign for maybe a fraction of that in 2025-26.
Heck, I wouldn't even be surprised if he signed with someone for less than the $2.95 million cap hit that he also had while playing for the Wings. I'd give him maybe $2 million for a year here and call it, and it's something I can, without a doubt, see Yzerman doing since he'd do well to bring in one more NHL-caliber forward.
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