The Detroit Red Wings find themselves in an enviable yet complicated position—an excess of defensemen. As they chart their path toward becoming a serious playoff contender, roster balance will be paramount.
However, a recently proposed trade with the New York Islanders—sending Erik Gustafsson and a 2026 third-round pick in exchange for right-handed defenseman Tony DeAngelo—presents more problems than solutions.
On paper, plausible. in practice, problematic
At first glance, the logic is sound. Detroit lacks right-handed defensemen, and DeAngelo, when active, has demonstrated the ability to contribute offensively. But therein lies the concern: availability.
Over the past two seasons, DeAngelo has managed just 66 total games—hardly a model of consistency in an 82-game NHL calendar. His most durable campaign came in 2022–23 with Philadelphia, logging 70 appearances. Last season, he produced a modest 19 points in 35 games with the Islanders; the year before, he tallied 11 points in 31 games for the Hurricanes.
While the offensive upside is not insignificant, Detroit is not in a position where risk for marginal return is advisable. Depth on the right side can already be addressed internally—Justin Holl remains a serviceable option in that role.
Given Detroit’s surplus of left-handed defensemen, offloading Gustafsson isn’t a bad idea—but it should be executed with foresight. Rather than tying him to a trade for another blue-liner, Detroit would be wiser to extract a second- or third-round draft pick in return.
Doing so would enhance flexibility in shaping their roster moving forward and bolster the asset pool in what is projected to be a deep 2026 draft class.
An intriguing alternative: Matt Grzelcyk
Should Detroit wish to replace Gustafsson with another mobile, offensive-minded defenseman, free agent Matt Grzelcyk offers a compelling option. Though he is also left-handed, his 2024 campaign—career highs in both assists (39) and total points (40) across all 82 games—suggests a player entering his prime.
Rumors of his subpar play during a brief stint with the Penguins have seemingly stalled his market, but the data tells a different story. It’s not uncommon for players with breakout years to price themselves out of early free agency, and Grzelcyk appears to be a victim of that dynamic.
However, with Detroit’s $12 million in cap space, they may be one of the few teams positioned to meet his asking price.
The idea here isn’t just about acquiring a productive defenseman—it’s about maximizing value. If Detroit can offload an underperforming left-hander and replace him with Grzelcyk, they’d be making an investment in reliability and offensive support from the back end.
Prioritize stability, not speculation
While the temptation to patch the right side of the defense is understandable, trading for Tony DeAngelo isn’t a good idea. Availability, not just ability, must be the guiding principle.
The smarter path forward lies in converting Gustafsson into future draft capital and leveraging cap space to bring in a player like Grzelcyk—one whose trajectory is upward and whose value can be realized immediately.
Sometimes the best moves are the ones not made. For the Red Wings, that may well be the case here.