The Detroit Red Wings made a few notable moves ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. They first brought back David Perron from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. This was after he had 10 goals and 25 points in 49 games with the Senators this season.
However, Perron cooled off after joining the Red Wings, as he had just three goals and a minus-9 rating in 16 games following the move. The Senators also found their way into the playoffs, while the Red Wings, of course, did not.
Perron was not the only player that the Red Wings brought in on trade deadline week, though. In an effort to boost their top four, the Red Wings acquired defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for their 2026 first-round pick, the San Jose Sharks' 2026 third-round pick, prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov and blueliner Justin Holl.
In 17 games with the Red Wings after the trade, Faulk had five goals, eight points and a minus-5 rating. Overall, the 34-year-old defenseman gave the Red Wings decent offense from the point following the move. However, Detroit's collapse down the stretch makes giving up this year's first-round pick for Faulk sting.
Having said that, the Red Wings also made a minor deal at the deadline that is now already starting to look horrible.
Former Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom thriving after trade to the Penguins
After acquiring Perron from the Senators, the Red Wings traded forward Elmer Soderblom to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for the San Jose Sharks' 2026 third-round pick, which was then flipped to the Blues to land Faulk. With the Red Wings having a surplus of bottom-six forwards, they opted to move Soderblom, but it is now looking like a big mistake.
After posting just two goals and one assist in 39 games for Detroit this season, Soderblom has been thriving with the Penguins. In 20 games with the Penguins since the move, Soderblom has five goals, 10 points, and 35 hits. With this, Soderblom is taking his game to a new level in Pittsburgh. To be fair, Soderblom didn't make much of an impact with the Red Wings and couldn't find a consistent spot on the roster.
That said, however, Soderblom scored more goals post-trade deadline than all but three Red Wings.
Soderblom also finished the regular season on a strong note, as he recorded four goals and eight points in his last 10 games for Pittsburgh. With this, he has only been heating up ahead of the playoffs, which undoubtedly stings when looking at how badly the Red Wingscollapsed down the stretch.
Sometimes, a change of scenery benefits a player, and that has certainly been the case for Soderblom. The 6-foot-8 forward has been a great fit with the Penguins, and the Red Wings' decision to trade him is looking like a big mistake because of it.
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