This must be an organizational-changing offseason for the Detroit Red Wings, and one that should bring in one final asset or two into the big club so they can finally make the playoffs. While the Wings have a playoff-caliber team, they must get to the point where they have enough talent on paper to do more than just sneak into a wild card spot, which was almost the case this year.
Sure, we can point to Dylan Larkin’s injury as the ‘beginning of the end’ for the Red Wings in 2023-24. So what they need is another player who can factor in as more than just insurance if such an unfortunate event were to occur again in 2024-25. General manager Steve Yzerman could scan the free agent class and fix the issue, or he could look to see who’s on the trade block.
If the Red Wings really want to compensate if someone like Larkin were to go down again, one strategy Yzerman could take is to improve the goaltending, something I’ve talked about in the past. I’ve also expressed that, somehow, Ville Husso needs to go elsewhere via trade, but what if Yzerman wants Husso in the Motor City as a 1B?
Alex Lyon could be an unexpected odd man out for the Detroit Red Wings
This past season, Alex Lyon proved to be quite the talented late-bloomer and one nobody foresaw making the impact he did in Detroit. Still, Lyon will turn 32 in December, and he initially signed on to be a backup or, at best, a 1B netminder to Ville Husso.
Husso still boasts a lot of upside despite his struggles over the past two seasons, meaning Lyon could be inserted in a trade to bring a younger goaltender to town. Lyon has already shown everyone he’s capable of being more than just a solid No. 2 netminder or even a fringe NHLer, so even someone in the division, like the Boston Bruins, could come calling.
Imagine that - a trade involving Linus Ullmark for Alex Lyon and other assets, which, while unexpected, would benefit both parties. Lyon would settle back in as a No. 2 goaltender behind one of the league’s best in Jeremy Swayman, and Ullmark would be a 1A in the Motor City if not the No. 1 (goaltender who starts most of the games) if Husso doesn’t get it together.
While unexpected, as you can see from the example above, it’s something that we shouldn’t count out, especially if the Red Wings could use Alex Lyon in a trade package that would bring a star goaltender to town.