3 under-the-radar trades that could launch the Red Wings into the playoffs
Blockbuster trades are a common theme in Detroit, but the Red Wings could also make under-the-radar moves to land themselves a playoff berth.
It’s not the trade deadline season without at least bringing up the possibility that the Detroit Red Wings will do something huge, such as making a blockbuster trade for a big-name defenseman like Jakob Chychrun. But Detroit already made a huge move over the offseason when they brought in Alex DeBrincat while the well-publicized signing Patrick Kane also looked like a brilliant transaction.
Therefore, general manager Steve Yzerman and company could have ventured beyond making the big moves, but let’s not assume he’s finished building this roster for ultimate playoff contention yet. With so much cap space for the trade deadline, it’s a shoo-in that the Red Wings will add another solid player or two, but they may be more under-the-radar talents instead of a potential blockbuster.
Matt Dumba would make an excellent addition to the Red Wings blue line
A few weeks ago, the Arizona Coyotes looked like they were playoff contenders, but trouble has since struck and they have since faded into the team we thought they would be. Those struggles, however, opened things up for a player like Mathew Dumba, who enjoyed a good track record with the Minnesota Wild before his stint in the desert.
While Dumba hasn’t been a sound two-way player for a while, finding a blueliner who can score isn’t necessary for the high-octane Red Wings. This team ranks sixth in goals scored with 194, so they instead need someone willing to keep this team from allowing so many goals.
With 78 blocks this season, Dumba is more than willing to step in and be that player, and his 131 hits would pace the Red Wings, meaning he will turn them into a more physical hockey team. This is a player with top-four capabilities who may also factor in as the remaining piece to turn Detroit into a strong contender should they trade for him.
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Marc-Andre Fleury shouldn’t mind potentially ending his career in Detroit
Ideally, this team would trade away Ville Husso, who needs a fresh start following what has been more than an underperforming stint so far. But with a no-trade clause in place, there is a chance a team like the Minnesota Wild are on his list. However, even if the Red Wings were forced to keep Husso around, it shouldn’t deter them from looking to acquire a goaltender.
Husso, along with James Reimer, are not players a team like Detroit needs to rely on in the net if they continue playing the way they have down the stretch. While Alex Lyon has settled in as the top goaltender, there is still the issue of whether it would be smart to fully trust him in the postseason, given his meager four games of experience playing playoff hockey.
Someone like Marc-Andre Fleury could be the answer for Detroit, as the 39-year-old is still not just productive, but with 27 games in the crease so far in 2023-24, it’s also clear he’s able to string together a few starts in a row. Fleury would be an immediate upgrade over Husso and Reimer, and would provide relief and veteran leadership for Lyon during the latter portions of the season.
Scott Laughton is a defensive forward the Red Wings need
The Philadelphia Flyers are arguably the biggest mystery at the trade deadline this season with a few players they can potentially move. But given their continued success, there is still a chance they move nobody and instead seek to bring in talent. Ultimately, it could come down to what they can get for the likes of Travis Konecny, Sean Walker, and Scott Laughton.
Should the Red Wings look to acquire a forward, Laughton is the type of player they need. As mentioned in the first section, this team already knows how to score, so acquiring another prolific scorer would make little sense at the deadline unless they were looking to win with a high-octane approach.
Laughton would bring more balance to a Red Wings team that needs it, along with an ultra-physical approach. He’s also not a half-bad option if Detroit is looking for a puck mover who is on the ice often during defensive zone starts. This season at 5-on-5, Laughton has been that player 57.3 percent of the time, so he would be comfortable in such a situation.
Overall, it’s tough to predict what the Flyers will ultimately do with their respective trade assets. But if they are looking to sell, Detroit needs to be all-in on a player who may improve the team defensively.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)