The Detroit Red Wings had another disappointing season, missing the playoffs by just seven points in the Eastern Conference. Instead of ending their long drought, they’ve now gone 10 straight seasons without a taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As pressure grows in Detroit, one NHL analyst believes it might be time for the team to make a bold move to shake things up.
Detroit Red Wings Linked With Blockbuster $92.8M Trade
The name at the center of the discussion is Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks. Pettersson is in the second year of his eight-year, $92.8 million contract and carries a full no-movement clause, meaning any trade would require his approval.
His production dropped sharply this past year, finishing with 15 goals and 51 points in 74 games, a significant decline from his 102-point peak just three years ago. At one stage, he went 20 games without a goal and was briefly demoted to the fourth line.
That slump has fueled speculation that a fresh start could be on the table if Pettersson decides he wants one.
Red Wings analyst Max Bultman weighed in on the situation, noting both the opportunity and the complications surrounding a potential move: “Pettersson has a full no-move clause, which means he’ll have full say over whether he changes teams this summer. He very well may not. But if he decides it’s time for a fresh start, he has a level of upside that is almost impossible to find, though he has fallen well short of it the last two seasons.”
Bultman also raised an interesting connection that could matter for Detroit. Pettersson’s familiarity with Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond, who was his teammate with Sweden during the Winter Olympics earlier this year.
That relationship, while not decisive, could at least put Detroit on the radar if Pettersson considers a fresh start.
“Pettersson wouldn’t solve Detroit’s physicality questions, and you can debate if he helps the late-season woes. But the offense he showed before the last two seasons would be a major difference-maker for the Red Wings, if he can recapture it,” Bultman added.
Pettersson’s ability to play both center and wing would also give the Red Wings more flexibility in their lineup. Still, taking on his $11.6 million cap hit would be a major gamble, especially after his inconsistent play over the past two seasons and with Detroit still trying to establish itself as a playoff team.
If Vancouver were to move him, they might need to attach assets and/or retain a chunk of his salary to get a deal done, given his current value.
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For now, it remains to be seen how the offseason unfolds and whether Detroit seriously enters the mix for Pettersson.
