Fan-submitted three trade or pass candidates for the Detroit Red Wings

This trade season is possibly the most interesting in years as about nine teams in the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) are fighting for their playoff lives. As folks wished, the playoffs in the NHL have never been more accessible in modern times. Will this fact change the landscape of the trade market? Will teams be more or less aggressive, possibly it changes nothing. It will be fun to watch play out. 

With the Detroit Red Wings, specifically, they are building toward the future. The Detroit Red Wings will not put the future in harm’s way for short-term gains. Rental players, players who are only signed through this season, aren’t of interest unless it’s a trade and sign situation (where the Detroit Red Wings are confident the player will stay long-term). There are plenty of options available for trade. Even better, we found out about the rising cap. Per Sportsnet:

"Next season, the cap will rise by $7.5 million, then $8.5 million the year after, and another $9.5 million in 2027-28. In all, that will be a $25.5 million increase over three seasons—it took the league eight years to climb that much from its original salary cap in 2005-06."

Rory Boylen (@RoryBoylen)

While all NHL teams will have access to the same salary cap limits, the Detroit Red Wings may see the biggest benefit of all the teams in the NHL. Partially, the Ilitch family isn’t shy of spending money on Mr. I’s little Red Wings. Also, the Detroit Red Wings have locked in their foundational pieces at seemingly steals. Per Puckpedia, captain Dylan Larkin is signed through 2031 at $8.7 million per season. His supporting cast of Lucas Raymond is signed through 2032 at $8.075 million per season. Moritz Seider is signed through 2031 at $8.550 million per season. To have a top-two line center, top winger, and top right-handed defensemen all signed for $8.7 million, or less through 2031 is crazy. If there’s a better-positioned team for the upcoming five to six seasons, I’m not aware of them.

With this excellent setup and a wealth of prospects developing all across the globe, the Detroit Red Wings can feasibly make swings to expedite the rebuild (trading for a superstar or star-tiered player), find more competitive bridges as the Detroit Red Wings wait for prospects to develop or continue down the same path at the same path they’ve traveled. Yzerman is not shy about being patient. He’s waiting out darker times than what we’ve experienced during this playoff drought, and I have a feeling he’s only concerned about building the team properly (not quickly). There should be plenty of trade options available, though, that might intrigue the Detroit Red Wings.

Here are three trade scenarios for the Detroit Red Wings

To make sure I get a variety of trade scenarios, I reached out to the Twitterverse to see what fans are thinking. Here are five scenarios that fans have submitted.

1. J.T. Compher for Casey Mittelstadt

Initial Thoughts:

Diving head first into Elite Prospects to gather intel on Casey Mittelstadt, the former Buffalo Sabres player who is now with the Colorado Avalanche. He’s a left-handed shooting forward listed as a center/left winger. Hailing from Minnesota, Mittelstadt has quick hands for puckhandling and shooting and is seemingly an offense-driven player. This current season, Mittelstadt has 32 points (9 goals and 23 assists) in 54 games while sporting a -12 rating. Last season, Mittelstadt split his season between the Buffalo Sabres (62 games played with 14 goals scored and 33 assists for a combined 47 points with a +12 rating) and the Colorado Avalanche (18 games played with four goals and six assists for 10 points with a -2 rating). In the playoffs with the Colorado Avalanche, he played 11 games, scored thrice, and earned six points for a total of nine points with an even plus/minus rating. Based on my findings, at least counting stats-wise on the scoresheet, Mittelstadt peaked in the 2022-23 season, where he boasted 59 points (15 goals and 44 assists) in 82 games played with a -8 rating. 

At 26 years old, Mittelstadt fits right in with the Detroit Red Wings rebuild timeline. Offering depth scoring, Mittelstadt is an intriguing draw. 

Their contracts are about equal according to Puckpedia (Mittelstadt is making more than J.T. Compher per season, but Compheris signed a season longer than Mittelstadt). 

As a one-for-one deal, I would be interested. The only concern is if Mittelstadt is more of a liability than Compher, I will lean more toward keeping Compher. For all the slights I have thrown Compher’s way, especially for his offensive game, I think the team misses his defensive game when he’s missing from the lineup. Also, if any team would be willing to take Compher, the Colorado Avalanche know Compher as well as anyone. Winning a cup together, too, creates more of a draw. However, I can’t help but think the teams might be happier keeping their respective players.

Benefit: Possibly more offensive depth, getting younger
Drawback: Concerns defensively

Verdict: Pass (hesitantly)

2. Lindgren for picks

Initial Thoughts:

I remember like it was yesterday, a time when I wouldn’t give up a Detroit Red Wings NHL draft pick for anything. Hopefully, this phase of the rebuild is over as we enter into the mushy middle of the NHL. Picks are still valuable to an NHL team. Whether they’re used in trades (whether it’s the specific pick or prospect is traded before completing development outside of the NHL) or used by the team to bolster their lineup in a few years on a cheap deal. 

A player likeRyan Lindgren(also 26-year-old as of writing this from Minnesota) is a left-handed shooting defenseman, and according to Elite Prospects, he’s 6’ and weighs in at 194 lbs. A member of the New York Rangers, Lindgren has become a staple on their blueline since 2020-21 (before hen he played games in both the American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL). So far, Lindgren has played in 47 games, scored twice, and had 11 assists for a combined 13 points with a -4 rating. In 2023-24, Lindgren played in 76 games, scored three times, and earned 14 assists for a total of 17 points with a +22 rating. Then, in 2022-23, he scored once and earned 17 assists for a total of 18 points with a +29 rating in 63 games played. In the playoffs (between 2021-22 and 2023-24), he played in 40 games, scored three times, and had seven assists for a total of 10 points with a +11 rating. 

According to Puckpedia, Lindgren is signed through this season and is making $4.5 million. 

From what I gather on Lindgren, he’s a reliable defenseman who doesn’t add to much flare or pizzazz to a lineup, but a sold defensive game. An NHL team cannot have too many of those, I’m certain. The biggest questions I’d have: 

(a) would Lindgren be willing to sign with the Detroit Red Wings long-term? 

A trade and sign (where a player signs a contract and is traded, or a scenario where the Detroit Red Wings could talk to Lindgren ahead of the trade to get a feel for Lindgren’s future) likely wouldn’t be involved. If not, the assets the New York Rangers would receive in return would be lower than if Lindgren was signed long-term or was able to speak to the Detroit Red Wings ahead of time to formulate a longer-term plan for the Detroit Red Wings and Lindgren. 

If Lindgren is looking to stay long-term with the Detroit Red Wings, or even three-to-four years, it might be worth it. If he’s truly a rental, I guess the pick (or picks) would be my question.

(b) if he’s not willing to stay long-term, would it even be worth a future draft pick to trade for Lindgren?

There have been some ugly Detroit Red Wings wins lately. Of course, nobody on the Detroit Red Wings is likely up for any awards (though I think Albert Johansson, Simon Edvinsson, and Moritz Seider) might argue otherwise with their play. And, I understand the intrigue of helping the blueline sooner than later. 

However, this Detroit Red Wings team, even on nights when they don’t bring their A games to the rink, have found ways to win. I’m not sure bringing in a rental is the answer to help stabilize the blueline. The guys who have been here, Seider, Edvinsson, and Johansson are likely here for the long haul. We still have a year of Ben Chiarot, Erik Gustafsson, and Justin Holl on the books for next season who likely aren’t moving. 

It might be better for the team to get them to play to their highest abilities now, working out the kinks and wrinkles in their games (or black holes—however, you want to look at the opportunities in each player’s game). We’re kind of stuck with them so head coach Todd McLellan and defensive coach Trent Yawney need to get the most out of each player and this season is the perfect time to do so. If they don’t cut it, I think in the offseason a player or two can be addressed. Either through trade, buyouts, or waivers, the Detroit Red Wings can make space for new players to come in as needed. 

If the Detroit Red Wings make it to the playoffs, it’ll likely be the guys who are currently playing save a minor upgrade or two. 

Lindgren could be a perfect opportunity for an upgrade, but I almost wonder if moving out a roster player might be of more intrigue to Yzerman as the spots on the NHL team are limited (especially up front) with more guys pushing for spots next season opening a spot might be helpful in the long and short-term (we don’t need so many forwards in the NHL).

Benefits: Stable Defense (something the Detroit Red Wings lack)
Drawbacks: Concerns about long-term future

Verdict: Trade (if mid to long-term is possible and we don’t give up much in the trade)

3. Tarasenko for a pick

Initial Thoughts:

Vladimir Tarasenko is falling into the same trap as I think a lot of other offensively-minded forwards fall into on the Detroit Red Wings. They don’t seem to do well. Whether it’s a system thing, an internal discrepancy, or coincidental, the high-skilled forwards don’t seem to click.

I don’t think Tarasenko is as bad as people say. Do I think he’s living up to the contract he signed, either? No. Both ideas can be true.

When Tarasenko joined the Detroit Red Wings, I was so stoked. Hearing someone talk about the history of the Detroit Red Wings on an old Playstation brought me back to the previous Detroit Red Wings dynasty. Having a player talk so highly of the past, when few players were even born let alone know of any of their names or skills, is refreshing, to say the least. The two rings he brings with him make it even sweeter.

Tarasenko is doing his best to make things work, but I have to wonder if he’s happy with the Detroit Red Wings or if a change of scenery might be in store. Similar to his signing with the Ottawa Senators last season, then he was traded before the deadline to the Florida Panthers, where he went on to win the Stanley Cup. Maybe the goal is similar this season that the Detroit Red Wings are more of a stopping point on his journey this season. Yet, the second year of his contract makes me think otherwise.

If he’s planning to stay the rest of the season and most of (if not all of) next season, then I figure he and the Detroit Red Wings will get things figured out.

Contrary to popular belief, Tarasenko works hard on the ice and, I think, does more heavy lifting for his linemates than he’s given credit for. At the same time, he came into the team and was given a lesser role, where he wasn’t in the top six. It’s possible this type of situation may have played a role in his confidence. Any time an employer says they aren’t confident in their employee’s ability to produce, it deters even the most successful and positive of people. 

McLellan has built bridges of trust and rapport with his players. I reckon Tarasenko is one who needs some specific, additional attention than others to let him know his worth to the team, to know showing up on the scoresheet isn’t important right now, and that the team (especially the coaching staff) is there to support him in every way that they can. 

There likely aren’t many teams lining up to trade for Tarasenko right now. A couple that come to mind are the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers. Both teams have won Stanley Cups with Tarasenko. He’s comfortable in both locations with both teams, so it’s possible they may have an interest in a reunion. 

Past these two teams, it’s hard to see a return for Tarasenko that would outweigh the experience and leadership that he’s expected to bring to the Detroit Red Wings. 

Even a third-round pick wouldn’t add much value to the Detroit Red Wings at this point. A vacancy in the top-nine forward group is important, but I’m not sure that the Detroit Red Wings have a player who is ready to take on Tarasenko’s role (and do it effectively). I think Elmer Söderblom and Jonatan Berggren have formed an entertaining third line with Michael Rasmussen. Having Tarasenko and Patrick Kane kind of floating between the second and fourth line isn’t ideal, but I think I’d rather have that than fill either spot with a depth forward from the Detroit Red Wings system. 

We have enough players who can fill in on the penalty kill, play a two-way effective game, and play physical. We don’t have players like Tarasenko ready to step into the lineup. For this reason, I think it’s difficult to trade Tarasenko unless he specifically wants out of Hockeytown (and he may very well want out, but I think it’s more in his court than the Detroit Red Wings).

Benefits: Future asset(s) (possible trade pieces for the future or young player on a high value contract in three to five years)
Drawbacks: Lose Tarasenko’s leadership

Verdict: Pass(ironically, when I began writing this section, I agreed with trading Tarasenko, but after thinking it through, I have since changed my mind)

This was a fun exercise and if you guys have any other possible trade scenarios running through your mind let us know! 

Who do you agree with? What do you disagree with? We’d love to hear from you.