The Detroit Red Wings and General Manager Steve Yzerman had seemingly checked off one of their needs on their trade deadline wishlist. Late last week, the Red Wings made an offer to the Vancouver Canucks for right-shot defenseman Tyler Myers. All the Red Wings needed to do was wait for Myers to approve of the trade. There was hope it would eventually get done, but Myers wanted to see if other offers came in.
One did, and now the Red Wings are left empty-handed on a defenseman yet again.
TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger reports that Myers has accepted a trade to the Dallas Stars. The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reported shortly afterwards that the Stars were trading a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 fourth-round pick to the Canucks for Myers. The Canucks are retaining 50-percent of Myers' remaining salary, which now comes out to $1.5 million this year and $1.5 million next year.
Now, it's back to the drawing board for the Red Wings.
Red Wings lose out on another defenseman after Tyler Myers accepts trade to Stars
The clock is now officially ticking for Yzerman to make a pivot move, as the trade deadline is at 3:00 p.m. ET this Friday.
This is now the second defenseman the Red Wings lose out on. Earlier this season, the Red Wings were linked to Quinn Hughes, who was also on the Canucks. Reports indicated that Hughes was open to accepting a trade to Detroit, but Yzerman was not comfortable making the deal without signing the defenseman to a long-term contract extension. Instead, the Red Wings watched Hughes end up in Minnesota.
With Myers now heading to Dallas, the Red Wings now have to find another target.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has mentioned Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers as a potential pivot for Yzerman and the Red Wings. The thing is, the Flyers have a high asking price for Ristolainen in the form of a first-round pick and a prospect. Would Yzerman be willing to give up that much for a right-shot defenseman who is under contract for one more season?
Other defensemen linked to the Red Wings include Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues and MacKenzie Weegar of the Calgary Flames. Both players have term remaining on their contracts, which is a preference for Yzerman. Could they now move forward with these options to ensure they give some help to Moritz Seider on the right side of the defense?
Let's not forget that the Red Wings are also looking for a second-line center who is under contract beyond this season. So how many resources is Yzerman willing to give up at this trade deadline to ensure the team makes it into the playoffs in hopes of making a run to the Stanley Cup.
Yzerman needs to act fast because the clock is ticking.