Welcome back to the latest edition of NHL Rumours here at Last Word On Hockey. In this edition, the talk will turn to the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings went quiet into the Olympic break. But that doesn’t mean the club isn’t hatching something. So, let’s jump into what the Red Wings may have in store for this upcoming trade deadline following the Olympics.
NHL Rumours: Red Wings Won’t Be Targetting Rentals
Rumour: The Detroit Red Wings will be looking to add at the trade deadline. However, the club will steer away from rentals such as impending unrestricted free agents (UFAs). The focus will be on a player with term instead.
Analysis: The Red Wings were briefly a part of the NHL Rumours leading up to the Artemi Panarin trade. The Wings were reportedly interested in landing Panarin, but only with the right contract extension. But one didn’t seem forthcoming, so Detroit passed.
That situation highlights the Red Wings’ deadline strategy. General manager Steve Yzerman ’s focus will be on trying to land players with term. In other words, Detroit is looking for players who can be a part of the team’s long-term outlook.
Insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period drove this point home in a February 3rd piece. In the piece, Pagnotta noted that despite the lack of movement by the Red Wings, NHL rumours regarding players with time on their contracts should pick up .
“Not much comes out of Detroit, but the noise is getting louder that the Red Wings are looking to add and prefer players with term.”
As for who that could be, the choices are not entirely clear. But another notable insider dropped a rather clear hint about who might be on the Red Wings’ radar.
Red Wings Could Target Rangers’ Forward
Friedman dropped a none-too-cryptic message in his 32 Thoughts blog last Friday. Friedman mentioned how New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck is looking to stay in the East Coast . As such, the thought immediately turned to the Red Wings.
Friedman noted that NHL Rumours surrounded the Red Wings and Trocheck when the 32-year-old hit UFA status in 2021. The Red Wings competed with the Rangers for Trocheck, with the Blueshirts landing Trocheck.
Fast-forward about five years, and it seems like the Trocheck and the Red Wings could be nearing a match. While this thought is nothing but a supposition at this point, it’s one of those NHL Rumours worth keeping in mind.
It’s worth pointing out that the Red Wings are looking for a top-six forward, preferably a center. That’s why the Panarin rumor made sense to a certain degree. But it seems like talk surrounding other potential top-six centers hitting the market could make sense for the Red Wings.
Detroit would like to boost its scoring. That’s why it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear other top-six names linked to the Red Wings. The team will likely kick the tires on names like Nazem Kadri , Brayden Schenn , or Elias Pettersson .
Pettersson, however, seems more like an offseason discussion given the size and term left on his contract.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte – USA TODAY Sports