This year was supposed to be the season where the Detroit Red Wings finally got over the hump and back into playoff contention.
Well, things aren’t trending in that direction. Another late-season slide has the Wings on the edge of the precipice. Their loss on Tuesday night to the Ottawa Senators, a team they had to beat to stay alive, has further sunken them in the playoff race.
When doing this year’s post-season autopsy, the cause of death will likely come back to one thing: A lack of guts at the trade deadline.
That subject has already been the subject of study and discussion. In an earlier piece, we looked at how the failure to make meaningful moves at the deadline have come back to bite the Red Wings. That’s something that Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff has doubled on. DiMarco drilled down in a March 20 column on how the Red Wings’ inability to make bold moves at the deadline could cost the club a playoff spot.
“Speaking with one executive whose team had trade discussions with Yzerman around the deadline, the Red Wings were not willing to move any of their top prospects in center Nate Danielson and goaltenders Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine in any prospective trade.”
Based on these comments, could the Red Wings have done more?
Since hindsight is 20/20, the answer is yes. Sure, GM Steve Yzerman deserves credit for landing Justin Faulk. But that was about the extent of it. The Wings were reportedly in on a Vincent Trocheck but failed to meet the New York Rangers’ price.
If the Red Wings do end up missing the playoffs, the pressure will be on Yzerman’s prospects to perform.
Looking at Yzerman’s rationale for keeping Red Wings’ top prospects
NHL prospects are like a box of chocolates. After all, how many times have we seen can’t-miss prospects flame out when turning pro? The talk of epic first-round busts is one that keeps hockey fans engaged every summer.
That’s why Danielson, Cossa and Augustine will have to perform. Other top prospects like Axel Sandin-Pellikka will need to take the next step in 2026-27. Otherwise, the axe could really fall on Yzerman.
Think about it. What happens if the Red Wings miss the playoffs, and the guys that Yzerman chose to keep don’t really amount to much?
Fans and pundits will look back at this year’s deadline and point the finger at Yzerman’s reluctance to trade them. Of course, there’s always the possibility that trading one of these prospects blows up in the Red Wings’ faces. For example, sending, say, Danielson and Augustine to the Rangers in a package for Trocheck gives New York two future stars. While there would be plenty of criticism, adding someone like Trocheck, especially if it leads to multiple playoff appearances, would justify the move.
For Yzerman’s sake, the prospects he chose to keep had better perform next season. If not, other organizations may be reluctant to accept them by the time the Red Wings are willing to trade them.