The Red Wings are going to make trades, and while we might not all be on board with it, it’s going to happen, given their newfound status as a contender. But there are good trades and there are bad trades, or at this point, potential trade proposals.
We already know there are a few players general manager Steve Yzerman could move at the trade deadline, and we won’t miss quite a few of them. But there are other players who could be moved by March 7th who would make us all stop and shake our heads if such a move occurred.
Caleb Kerney of The Hockey News listed four players who could be sent packing by the time March 7th rolls around. Three of them: Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Ville Husso, most Wings fans won’t bat an eye at. But another player made me do a double-take.
Kerney also listed goaltender Alex Lyon, saying “His price tag and good performance will make him appealing to contenders looking to fortify their goalie position down the stretch. Because of that, the Red Wings could get a pretty penny for him.
“However, he is younger than Cam Talbot, so the Red Wings could pull a switcheroo and try to trade him instead. With his past relationship to Todd McLellan and performance this season, it's tough to see them going this route.”
Would the Red Wings seriously consider trading Alex Lyon?
One would think this would be a foolish move on Steve Yzerman’s part, and at first glance, I’d think the same. Lyon has a 0.904 save percentage, a 2.68 GAA, a shutout, and a 0.579 quality starts percentage. These are all good, solid numbers, but they may not be enough to keep Lyon in Detroit.
Why? For one, Lyon could be used as a trade chip if the Red Wings looked to bring even more stability into their situation at goaltender. Above, Kerney implied the Wings could trade Talbot, but considering what he said next, he’s probably right that Talbot will be a Red Wing for the foreseeable future.
That leaves Lyon as the odd man out, especially with Sebastian Cossa the likely long-term answer as the No. 1 goaltender, or at least a 1A. Overall, I wouldn’t justify moving Lyon in most situations, except perhaps just one.
When would it make sense to move Alex Lyon?
The only way I’d be cool with the Wings moving Lyon would be if Steve Yzerman had a deal in place to acquire a goaltender who’d be an upgrade. Someone who could even factor in as a 1A while Cossa could get another year in the AHL and Cam Talbot plays out the rest of his contract.
Suppose, for example, if they could swing a trade with the Anaheim Ducks for John Gibson. In that case, I could see them moving Lyon to Southern California in a trade package. This season, Gibson has been in a timeshare with Lukas Dostal, but he’s held up well, with a 0.914 save percentage, a 2.69 GAA, and a 0.636 quality starts percentage.
Gibson is one of the league’s better goaltenders who gets little credit, thanks mainly to the teams he’s had to play for in Anaheim. But at this point, unless it’s for a player like Gibson, expect Lyon to stick around Hockeytown.