Fans of the Detroit Red Wings can expect a big addition to their roster this trade deadline. The team is in playoff contention for the first time in years, and we can expect Steve Yzerman to significantly improve the odds by making a critical addition to the lineup. The Red Wings are going shopping with the intention of making a big splash. Detroit is taking a long and hard look at four names to improve its situation in the middle.
Robert Thomas, Elias Pettersson, Among the Four Names on the Red Wings’ Radar
When you have some serious postseason odds for the first time in a decade, you would want to do everything possible to keep those hopes alive. With the trade deadline looming and the Red Wings being just shy of $13 million in terms of cap space, some attractive options could be up for grabs.
According to James Mirtle’s contribution to The Athletic, the Red Wings are among the top-10 buyers this deadline, along with teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers, among others.
“Help down the middle (second-line center) or a top-four defenseman would make the most sense for Detroit,” Mirtle wrote, weighing in on what the Red Wings’ priorities could be when the team goes shopping. Unsurprisingly, it is looking for a center to make a difference.
From Vincent Trocheck and Elias Pettersson to Nazem Kadri and Robert Thomas, the Red Wings are far from choosy at this deadline. Safe to say that any team that has a top-six center to offer is very likely to hear from Detroit.
According to Marco D’Amico writing for RG.org, Yzerman seems open to moving Marco Kasper and perhaps even Axel Sandin-Pellika in return for a center who delivers.
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“The Red Wings appear open to moving Marco Kasper and possibly even Axel Sandin-Pellika in a bid to go after a top-flight center. They’re not only looking into Thomas, but virtually every single top-six center available. Detroit has expressed interest in Vincent Trocheck, Elias Pettersson, and Nazem Kadri, on top of Thomas, and seems adamant about trying to acquire one prior to March 6,” D’Amico stated.
The St. Louis Blues’ unremarkable season has unfolded in a way that suggests the team will be a standout seller. Consequently, Thomas, who is in the third year of his eight-year, $65 million contract, has attracted sufficient attention. Besides the Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Utah Mammoth are also hot on Thomas’ trail.
