This can’t be happening again, can it? The Detroit Red Wings, again, looked like the class of the league for a couple of months there after a rough start. Now, they’ve lost five of their last seven, and everyone’s hand has got to be hovering a little more over that panic button as we flash back to what happened last season.
If you need a refresher, Dylan Larkin went down with an injury when the Wings looked like legitimate contenders and the team fell apart. This season, Dylan Larkin is, thankfully, healthy, but once again, the team is falling apart.
Yeah, this is a situation the Red Wings don’t need, especially with Detroit sports collectively looking like its absolute best in years. The Wings have proven they can contend, but falling short of the playoffs again isn’t an option when there is one player rumored to be on the move who would turn them around instantly.
Red Wings must trade for a winger who has steadily been getting better
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked about a potential trade with the Buffalo Sabres, but it’s been at least a few. But one Sabres player has stood out who I haven’t gotten to yet, and it’s JJ Peterka. Peterka, with 18 goals and 49 points through 58 games, would be a magnificent addition to the Wings.
For one, it would be easy to include a high-end prospect here for Peterka, who is in his age-23 season. Yet for another, Peterka just keeps getting better with age, as he’s already about to eclipse his career-high of 50 points set just one year ago, and that, in turn, is up from 32 points in 2022-23.
Better yet, Peterka won’t break the bank on what’s left of his current deal, and he’ll be a restricted free agent (RFA) at the end of the season. This means there’s almost no way he’d be a rental in Hockeytown. Plus, Peterka’s an established player who will just keep getting better.
What would JJ Peterka cost? Don’t worry about it
A high-end prospect or up-and-coming player would be a prerequisite here, plus a second-round pick, a mid-tier prospect, and hey, why not send Patrick Kane to the City of Good Neighbors?
Yeah, it would seem like the Red Wings are giving up a lot here for one player, especially one who won’t be a top-tier face of the franchise. But still, Peterka could end up being something similar to what Jake Guentzel is in this league if he keeps up his current trajectory.
Therefore, it’s a trade I wouldn’t hesitate making, especially since he has more upside than players like Dylan Cozens, Bowen Byram, or Owen Power. He’s also put together back-to-back solid seasons, while those listed above have seen their fair share of inconsistencies.
So, if Steve Yzerman pulled off a blockbuster for Peterka, know that there’s a good chance he’d be in Detroit for a while and that the Red Wings just got a borderline cornerstone.