It feels as though we are in rarefied air when it comes to the Detroit Red Wings potentially making a splash at the NHL trade deadline as buyers rather than pondering who will be shipped out of town for future assets, but here we are.
The Red Wings have enjoyed a surge under newly appointed head coach Todd McLellan and quite possibly are looking to add a big name via trade. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently released his most recent Trade Watch List 2025 of the top 40 players currently being shopped around the league. The Detroit Red Wings appear on the list several times as 'teams reportedly linked.' Now, what does linked mean? This means that a source informed Pagnotta that Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings had at least had a conversation about adding the player in question.
As you know, Yzerman always holds his cards close to his vest and rarely allows any information out to the public. That doesn't mean someone within the organization Yzerman has recently spoken to doesn't let something out suggesting a conversation was had. Long story short, these are just rumors, but sometimes, where there is smoke, there is fire. Oh, and isn't it nice not to see a bunch of Red Wings on the list being shopped around the league? It's been a slow build, and at times, it's felt to be moving at a snail's pace, but finally, Detroit's rebuild appears to be close to turning the corner.
It needs to be noted. The return for each of these players would need to be substantial. It would take a package of prospects, draft picks along with an NHL-ready player. You can't acquire talent without giving up something. Think Vladimir Tarasenko, Jonatan Berggren, Amadeus Lombardi, Carter Mazur, and Shai Buium. I wouldn't rule out Nate Danielson although the secondary pieces Detroit would part with in a deal he'd be involved with would be limited.
Breaking down who the Detroit Red Wings are linked to on the recent Trade Watch List
Dylan Cozens
Detroit is linked to Buffalo center Dylan Cozens, the first name on this list. The 23-year-old is linked to several teams, including Toronto and Montreal in the Atlantic Division. Cozens has 11 goals and 27 points through 55 games this season. For what it is worth, Cozens is third on the list of possible trade candidates.
The Sabres are a dumpster fire. This organization can't seem to get out of its way. Imagine failing to mend fences with a superstar player like Jack Eichel. I guess things turned out very well for the dynamic center; he won a Stanley Cup with Vegas and is on a team that will remain in the championship conversation for the foreseeable future. In turn, Eichel left the Sabres, who are not stuck in neutral, where many teams find themselves in a league built on parity. They're firmly in reverse, and the gear shifter broke off.
Cozens is a player I really liked in his draft year, and I thought he was a player Yzerman and the Red Wings had their eye on. Yzerman surprised many with his selection of Moritz Seider, and Cozens was next off the board at No. 7 to Buffalo. I guess it worked out well for the Red Wings, but now there is still an opportunity to land Cozens, who will benefit from a fresh start.
The Detroit Red Wings have lacked center depth for years. After Dylan Larkin, it is a cast of checking centers with limited playmaking and scoring upside. Andrew Copp, who was injured on Saturday afternoon against Minnesota, has been skating between Alex DeBrincat and Vladimir Tarasenko on the second line. J.T. Compher was brought in to solidify the second unit and, due to his poor performance, has been banished to the fourth line in more of a pure shutdown role.
Cozens, a former 31-goal scorer, not only fits Detroit's future plans but would also have the opportunity to thrive playing behind Larkin. Cozens is under contract through the 2029-30 season with a cap hit of $7.1 million. That is not a bad number, considering the cap continues to rise. A place like Detroit playing with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane might just be what the doctor ordered to restore his confidence.
Elias Pettersson
This dream of potentially landing Elias Pettersson (the star center) has quickly faded. The dysfunctional Vancouver Canucks recently traded J.T. Miller back to the New York Rangers amid some locker-room issues between him and Pettersson. That move suggests that Pettersson, who has recently voiced that he'd like to remain in Vancouver, where he just signed a long-term deal last year, might be off the block, yet he lands No. 10 on this Trade Watch list.
Pettersson, 26, is in the prime of his career and is having a very disappointing season by his standards. He's notched 11 goals and 34 points over 50 games this season. Before this season, Pettersson had scored 30-plus goals three straight seasons, topping out at 39 in 2022-23. He, like Cozens, fits Detroit's current window. The Red Wings are not expected to be Cup contenders for another two or three years, which puts Pettersson around 29 years old, where he'd still be very effective.
The word is, Vancouver is not longer actively shopping Pettersson, but will listen to offers. Vancouver will need their 'socks blown off' to move their young center. And as they say, a move seems unlikely at this point, but never say never.
Trevor Zegras
Way down the list at No. 37 comes Trevor Zegras. The dynamic Anaheim Ducks winger appears to be injury-prone, but there is so much talent there he's still someone who not only holds a ton of value on the trade market but someone a franchise is willing to risk creating a large trade package for in hopes of extracting the most of his overall abilities.
Zegras, 23, well, soon-to-be 24, is having a rough season. He's notched seven goals and 16 points over 33 injury-plagued games this season. This followed a six-goal, 15-point campaign last year over 31 games.
There is a ton of risk in adding Zegras, knowing what it would cost the Red Wings, but a fresh start might do him a world of good. The dynamic winger recorded back-to-back 23-goal seasons for the rebuilding Ducks during his age 20 and 21 seasons. Also, there is a path to acquiring him. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek is one of Steve Yzerman's best friends. Although his former understudy won't be handing out gifts, like Doug Armstrong in St. Louis, there is always an opportunity for in-depth, genuine dialog between the two parties, unlike others across the league.