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.

Feb 18, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Matt Dumba (24) breaks his stick on
Feb 18, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Matt Dumba (24) breaks his stick on | Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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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. 

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)

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