3 reasons the Red Wings must trade for Filip Gustavsson

The Red Wings have trade assets to move

Anyone who follows the Red Wings and the Wild knows that both teams are looking to win in 2024-25. Detroit wants to finally claw its way back into the playoffs, while Minnesota recently signed Marc-Andre Fleury for one more season, and they’re hoping for nothing more than a playoff run at the absolute least. 

But it doesn’t mean the Wild won’t take a draft pick, nor does it mean they won’t take a high-potential B-prospect. Sure, the Red Wings would need to give up more than that, but there’s still Justin Holl, whom they will inevitably move this offseason. 

The Wild played well defensively this past year, especially at 5-on-5, but there could still be room for a player like Holl, especially with Alex Goligoski and Dakota Mermis hitting the free agent market. 

Some may scoff at the possibility of Detroit trading a player like Holl for a potential franchise goaltender, but in actuality, he seemed to be nothing more than a bad fit with the Wings. While he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Holl logged top-four minutes, he was physical, and he was an over 50 percent player on the Corsi at even strength.

Holl, though older, could get his career back on track in Minnesota, while the same would go for Gustavsson in Detroit.