The Detroit Red Wings head into this year’s trade deadline as one of the clear buyers looking to upgrade. Unlike other potential playoff contenders, the Red Wings have the pieces and the cap space to open the door for major moves.
That was the subtext in the run-up to the Quinn Hughes trade. While the price tag on Hughes was a little too high for GM Steve Yzerman’s liking, that situation does not preclude the Red Wings from making big waves at this year’s deadline. With two premium pieces like this on the board, the Red Wings can enhance their chances of landing a big fish like Hughes or Rasmus Andersson. As those two trades have shown, teams will have to pony up top prospects to land major veteran assets.
Specifically, The Athletic Corey Pronman identified two premium young assets the Red Wings could translate into useful pieces like Hughes or Andersson as part of a strong playoff run.
The Red Wings have 2 potential trade pieces that can help them be buyers at the trade deadline
In a January 26 piece, Pronman highlighted how Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Nate Danielson are among the NHL’s best young pieces (sub req) that sellers could look for in a deal with Detroit.
In particular, Brandsegg-Nygard could be the most enticing piece given his overall skillset. Pronman touted the Norwegian forward, by describing him as "a heavy winger with good offensive skills and a great shot." He projects as a middle-six forward, Pronman added.
Brandsegg-Nygard could turn into a power forward. The 20-year-old stands 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds. He can play both wings and has the sort of shot that could be an asset on the power play.
That’s the sort of skillset that could entice any team into taking a chance on him. It’s worth pointing out that Brandsegg-Nygard notched just one assist in nine NHL games this season. But his seeming lack of NHL success hasn’t slowed him down in Grand Rapids. In 34 AHL games this season, he’s scored eight goals and 24 points. That’s not bad for his first pro season in North America.
As for Danielson, he’s the kind of center every team in the NHL covets. As Pronman points out, his two-way play is too good to ignore. Despite inconsistent scoring, Danielson could be a solid pick-up. Pronman wrote: "His scoring has been inconsistent, although he’s been quite good at the AHL level this season.”
The ninth overall pick from the 2023 NHL Draft has appeared in 28 NHL games this season. He managed just two goals and seven points, landing him back in Grand Rapids. In the AHL, however, Danielson has rediscovered his scoring touch. He’s notched two goals and 10 points in 11 games. Those numbers could make him an intriguing option for a club looking to work something out with the Red Wings.
The likelihood of the Red Wings parting with either Brandsegg-Nygard or Danielson this season is slim. The club is more focused on long-term success than chasing a short-term trend. Still, if the right trade came along, it wouldn’t be hard to envision the Red Wings cashing in one of their top trade chips.
With about 10 days to go until the Olympic roster freeze, there may still be time for the Red Wings to turn more than a few heads with a major move. Otherwise, the timeline may shift after the Olympics. By then, other teams may be willing to sell. That could open the door to a blockbuster swap. It can ensure the Red Wings don't miss out on another major piece like they did with Hughes and Andersson.