Two players to buy, one prospect to sell for the Red Wings at the 2024 trade deadline
Now that the resurgent Red Wings are well in contention, they need to make at least one big trade to fix some problems before Friday’s trade deadline.
As strong contenders in 2024, the Detroit Red Wings need to look at not just any buying option, but strong ones that can help this team win in 2025 and beyond. And no, that is not a typo, because the Red Wings can afford more than just the typical rental piece, so why not ‘buy’ quality players they may realistically sign to extensions, especially with the amount of cap space they will have next year?
Sure, general manager Steve Yzerman would need to look ahead and consider extensions for players like Patrick Kane, Moritz Seider, and Daniel Sprong, among others. But even with those inevitable transactions eating up cap space, Yzerman should have plenty left over for the players listed in today’s article.
Red Wings can solve multiple issues at the trade deadline by buying two players
Despite taking a shutout loss to the Florida Panthers over the weekend, it shouldn’t throw the high-octane Red Wings off-track, and they should be more than ready to roll now that we are officially in Trade Deadline Week. However, defense and goaltending continue to haunt Detroit, and as of March 3rd, they are 21st in the NHL with 195 goals allowed, and 3.2 per game.
Their goaltending and defense are two variables they can and must change in a single deadline, considering their ample cap space, along with what they can spend at the deadline. So, which (rather expensive) players should Yzerman target at some point this week before the Friday deadline, and which prospect should be the top name he wouldn’t mind selling?
Yes, one of the players listed below will require Detroit to trade away at least one of their better prospects. However, there are a few on the “untouchable” list who shouldn’t go anywhere, so they won’t be listed below. But there is one up-and-comer who must be expendable.
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Player to buy: Juuse Saros
Juuse Saros isn’t putting up the numbers we are used to seeing, but we don’t need to panic and believe he’s already losing his stride at age 29. Everyone has a “down year,” and Saros, after playing such a sound game since he took his first reps in Nashville, is no exception.
Plus, he’s still better than the current trio of Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, and James Reimer, despite Lyon’s surprising campaign. And even in a so-called down season, Saros still has a 0.908 save percentage, a 2.82 GAA, 27 quality starts, and two shutouts. He’s also coming off of another year when he was in top-six consideration for the Vezina, which is an added bonus.
We discussed Detroit’s current cap situation for the short term and throughout 2024-25, and Saros will make just $5 million next season, which should remain well within Yzerman’s budget. Yzerman would need to sign Saros to an extension next season or shortly after to keep him in the Motor City if a trade commenced.
Whether a move like this would happen and if Yzerman could find a way to swing a deal for Saros is something we wouldn’t find out until some point down the road. But even if they only get a full year out of Saros, he makes for an outstanding bridge in 2024-25.
Prospect to sell: Carter Mazur
There is no way the Red Wings will make it through the trade deadline season in a potential blockbuster for Juuse Saros mentioned in the previous slide without giving up a lot in compensation. While we weren’t getting rid of the “untouchable” prospects mentioned earlier, a high-end prospect would still find themselves in Nashville's organization should the Red Wings make such a trade for Saros.
Carter Mazur could be that player in high demand, given the monster productivity he managed through two full seasons at the University of Denver. He had 75 points and 36 goals in 81 games during that time, and he has since transitioned well to the Grand Rapids Griffins, snagging six points and three goals in six contests in 2023 before putting up 29 in 44 games so far this season.
Mazur’s versatility is another characteristic of his game that would entice a team like Nashville to demand Detroit add him to such a trade package. While he could put on about twenty pounds of muscle in time, he also displays surprising strength, further making him a complete player whose game is not exclusively in just one zone.
Trading a talent like Mazur would be a heavy loss for the Red Wings, but they are also a team built to win now, while the winger figures to spend at least another season at the AHL level.
Player to buy: Cody Ceci
Cody Ceci could be one of the more productive players on a good team who can find himself playing elsewhere by the end of the week, mainly because the Edmonton Oilers need to free up cap space, and Ceci is one of the few veterans on a seven-figure salary they can move.
While the Oilers would more likely look to trade him to a team on its way out of contention, he’s still not a bad idea for Yzerman to at least consider, given his experience and the fact his presence would be a massive help on the blue line.
Ceci is also just 30 years old, and his $3.25 million cap hit would be easy for Yzerman to add for another year. Ceci is due $3.5 million next season, but it’s not too much of a deviation. Best yet, he can block shots, which would be a major welcome to the Motor City regardless of whether Yzerman refuses to address the situation at goaltender by the end of the week.
No, a trade for Ceci won’t make for the same type of waves as the Alex DeBrincat trade or a potential trade for Juuse Saros. But he would be a necessary piece who will help Detroit accumulate enough points to reach the playoffs for the first time this decade.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and Elite Prospects as of March 3rd)