The Detroit Red Wings spent the entire season leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline looking to make a big splash. The biggest one they could have made was landing Quinn Hughes.
However, that deal never came to fruition. There was talk, albeit brief, of Rasmus Andersson, Elias Pettersson and even a goaltender like Jordan Binnington.
But there was one purported deal that went down to the wire: a deal for Vincent Trocheck. That was the deal that could have put the Red Wings over the top. Again, it didn’t happen.
When the buzzer sounded on the trade deadline, part of the reaction was that Steve Yzerman had done a good job of landing Justin Faulk and David Perron without sacrificing any major prospects.
But looking at the state of affairs at the moment, it’s evident Yzerman might be regretting not having made any bigger moves.
The loss of Dylan Larkin looms large. Plus, losing Andrew Copp left two holes down the middle. Add Michael Rasmussen to that mix, too. All of a sudden, the Red Wings' center depth is now J.T. Compher on the top line, followed by Emmitt Finnie, Marco Kasper, and Sheldon Dries.
Wouldn’t Trocheck have looked fantastic now?
The Red Wings resemble one of those marathon runners who lead throughout the race but fade in the final stretch. Meanwhile, other teams hat held their pace throughout the season are now suddenly picking up. And it could cost the Red Wings a playoff spot.
Playoff miss would magnify the scrutiny for Red Wings
A playoff miss would magnify the scrutiny surrounding the Red Wings. In particular, questions will emerge about the Red Wings failing to “go for it” at the deadline. While it does make sense to assume that this isn’t the right time for the Red Wings to go all-in, it’s tough to see another season of prime Dylan Larkin wasted.
Also, there’s no telling if Patrick Kane will return next season. Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp will be a year older. Plus, Marco Kasper, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Emmitt Finnie aren’t exactly a sure thing moving forward.
All of this means that the Red Wings will face plenty of questions about building a more sustainable roster next season. Most importantly, depth will be at the forefront of this discussion.
Oh, and there’s the goaltending situation, too. John Gibson will enter the final year of his current deal, while Cam Talbot will be a free agent in the summer. So, will the Red Wings keep Talbot? If not, how does the team address that situation? Is it time to roll with Sebastian Cossa?
Boy, those questions are harder than a college history test.
Except there is no cheat sheet for this test. It’ll be up to Yzerman to consult his crystal ball and see what the future holds.