The Detroit Red Wings, like every other team that did not make the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, must figure out one or two consequential moves to get it over the hump and back into championship contention.
In Detroit’s particular case, there is one move that stands out: Getting a true number-one goaltender to patrol the crease.
The Red Wings haven’t had consistent goaltending since the days of Chris Osgood and Jimmy Howard. With Osgood, the Wings won three Cups as he racked up 317 regular-season wins and 74 playoff victories.
As for Jimmy Howard, he racked up 246 wins with the Red Wings during the final days of the team’s three-decade-long playoff streak.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the Red Wings have lacked a true number-one goalie to backstop the team back to the playoffs.
But we’re not just talking about a goalie who can play 40 or 50 games each season. We’re talking about a goalie who can steal the odd game here and there. The kind who can mop up the mess made by the not-so-occasional faux pas or turnover.
Such goalies don’t grow on trees. Just look at the Edmonton Oilers. They have had to make do with a decent, if unspectacular tandem in Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Similarly, the Vegas Golden Knights got a serviceable performance from Adin Hill in 2023 to lead them to a Cup.
But when looking at the last few Stanley Cup winners, the 2022 Colorado Avalanche are somewhat of an outlier. Teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers have had the luxury of an elite-level goalie who’s been able to carry the load, often stealing games when the team has been unable to score.
The biggest advantage of such goaltending is that it buys enough time for a team to figure out its scoring when the opposition manages to shut down its top scorers. Unfortunately, that’s something the Red Wings haven’t had in a long time.
Now, in case you’re wondering, I will name a couple of names that I think could make for some interesting summer headlines.
Potential elite goalies Detroit Red Wings could target this offseason
At the time of writing this piece, two names emerge as potential elite goalies that might be available at one point or another.
Let’s start in Vancouver with Thatcher Demko. The Canucks have two solid goalies in Demko and Kevin Lankinen. Lankinen basically won the starting job this season after Demko continued struggling with injuries.
The Canucks felt so high on Lankinen that they signed him to an extension through 2030. Meanwhile, Demko is a UFA after next season.
The issue with that situation is that it leaves third-stringer Arturs Silovs on the bubble as he has one more year left on his current and is out of options, meaning that he cannot be sent down the AHL without clearing waivers.
I will say this: If Silovs hits waivers, the Red Wings may not even have a chance to claim him as Silovs will more than likely get scooped up immediately.
So, that brings us back to Demko. Demko, who’s on the hook for one more year at $5 million, could be a fantastic option for the Red Wings. The Wings can land Demko on the cheap, potentially sending someone like Peter Mrazek back the other way.
A healthy Demko would be that elite goalie who can steal games for the Red Wings. He could be the difference-maker the Red Wings have lacked since the days of Jimmy Howard. By the way, Demko does not have a no-trade clause.
Another goalie to keep an eye on is Jake Oettinger. While the Dallas Stars would first fire Peter DeBoer rather than trade Oettinger, given the way the Oettinger was unceremoniously pulled in the Stars’ last game against the Oilers, speculation has run rampant on social media about Oettinger being done in Dallas.
While there is no indication that’s the case, I would advise Red Wings fans to keep an eye on that situation.
Lastly, there’s Boston and Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins will try to avoid a full-on rebuild as much as possible this season. The team will try to retool on the fly and hopefully pull off a rebound like the Washington Capitals did this season.
But you have to think that if the Bruins fall to the bottom of the league standings this upcoming season, at what point does Swayman pressure the Bruins to move him to a contender? That could be the perfect opportunity for the Red Wings to land a franchise goalie.
It’s worth noting that all three of these scenarios are purely conjecture at this point. There is no clear indication that any of the aforementioned netminders are available for trade. But then again, the NHL is one of the fastest-changing sports in the world.
Ultimately, the Red Wings have the pieces and draft capital to pull of a major trade like this. That is why Detroit fans should keep an eye out for a major move like this potentially coming down the pipeline.
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