THOMAS TRADE DEBATE: DOES YZERMAN NEED TO MAKE A DEAL? – Winged Wheel Podcast – Feb. 5th, 2026

48 comments

1. No, this team is not good enough. They’ve over performed up until this point and look to be falling back down to earth. Only a top 6 forward or top 4 D would make sense but if you’re able to fill a hole with a mid round pick, sure. Don’t think by any means a depth move would impact the seasons outcome so almost why bother at that point.

2. The wings must, must add a D guy before March. That alone might help sustain some offense.

3. Player's wifes tell them where they're going.

4. The Capt gets castrated and zero team mate does anything. Wings are a weak team with average talent. Slow and absent engagement. Wings are 5 guys and a goalie out of true contention.

5. Kane is done! Emotions aside

6. Wings had lots of red in Colorado. Asylum Seekers are taking over Denver.

7. What truth can this cast truly bring forth after receiving such cherished gifts from the ORG! We suck again! Wings miss the post season again. Time stamp!!!!

8. You guy's are amazing. Lets not cover the elephant in the arena. Yzerman said ("97"- We had a nasty team). We are fxxxing weak! What are we looking for? Steve has become a bookkeeper $

9. Playoffs? What! Playoffs? Not guna happen. Steve is good with that. Its still the Tigers time.

10. i never get to catch yall on youtube always driving. nice to see you boys. If no one has told you lately youre doing a great job! keep it up!

11. The saddest thing is hearing all you guys talk about overpaying while Yzerman does nothing

12. Lucic was on Darren Helm

13. I love Thomas but being willing to pay more for him than Hughes is insane, regardless of contract status.

14. Is a Brad sized grain of salt really big because it's a human size grain of salt or small because Brad's a small human?

15. Short answer: yes.
    Long answer: Hell, yes.

16. It is not what's available! Its about who we already picked! And who we let go! Steve needs his ass Drapered.

17. EVAN! HE LET GO! PRIME TIME PLAYERS. Your talking points would be very different. Steve did this under instruction. Still. His consideration is under scope. As well his profits share.

18. The way they're playing now, I wouldn't be shocked if Yzerman doesn't do anything yet again. The players haven't earned it. The guys on this team now continue to wilt when the pressure picks up so I can see Yzerman saying "why am I gonna make a move for guys who can't get it done?" I figured it would be March again but the team can't even get to March before choking now.

19. Barry trots is in the Epstein files. He has to go.

20. With Thomas, you also don't have to address the internal cap structure argument that they've been giving the others. Eventually, you will, but it kicks the can down the road.

21. There is no way I would trade Carter Bear or Kasper for Thomas. I would trade Danielson, Rasmussen and a first round and maybe a second for Thomas

22. 3 idiots don't understand life. I lost a everything for protecting myself. Nothing funny assholes.

23. No way Robertson is better than Thomas. Thomas is a better two way player with good offense.

24. 1:02:50 Weird to be watching this and hearing Nick Saban's name.

25. 1:06:04 Nah, if the story is correct, respect.

26. Yes. This team at its current standing had the 5th easiest schedule. They’re on a skid with the 2nd hardest schedule. They have weak spots and need next a next level boost for a playoff run. Don’t give up the bank or settle on a mid upgrade or rental but also don’t be on the outside looking in when trade prospects are slim pickings.

27. We can tell by the accents that the WWP boys aren't routing for team USA, eh? Unless Canada becomes the 51st state before the olympics are over 😅

28. Kasper, Mazur, MBN, Lombardi, Wallinder, and a 1st for Thomas and Parayko. Does St. Louis say no?

29. I'm listening to some of your critiques and wondering if you watched the game. Are the Red wings played a good game. They're young they don't play the mammoth very often. And their goalie held the Mammoth up. Their passes were crisp. Their creativity was there. And you're getting to see Johansson and pelica play I'm the same line. That line is very promising.

30. Im excited we are having legitimate convos on buying. Could we also be sellers? Goalies would fetch a premium. Talbot has been riding alot of pine. Augustine unsigned? beyond that what would be worth selling on this team.

31. Robert Thomas is good but he’s not McDavid and he’s got 5 years what happens if he leaves in 5 ? He gets like 20 goals a year …. I’d want Thomas but I’m not redoing all the pain we been through during the years in one trade

    Rather get pettersson at a cheaper price if he forces himself here cause I think he’s gonna bounce back here and then use the extra assets for a top. 2 pairing dman

32. I’m not giving up Cossa or Augustine. You never know with goalies and I’m not chancing giving away the wrong guy, Guimond can go

33. Gasparilla was before the stadium series, huge party city wide in tampa, there was even a pirate ship

34. Wings have only had 1 top 6 center since Zetterberg retired. Larkin is a top center, but borderline 2C, so even more imperative you have a legit 2C. Yzerman got fooled by Copp having an outlier career yr in pts, so signed him to be a 2C. He’s not and never has been. Then he does the exact same thing with Compher. Both are career bottom 6 centers.

    The center ice position is critical. Ideally, you want some of your top 6 wingers to also be natural centers (huge advantage). You’re not going anywhere with undersized, softer skilled wingers. This team has the smallest top 6 in the league. size isn’t everything, (look at Rasmussen, softest player I’ve ever seen), smaller guys can be dogs too. But this team only having 1 top 6 center, NOT ONE power forward….aren’t going anywhere.

    Desperately need a Robert Thomas (unless Kasper can be a 2C, may take awhile for him to get there) and then a Bertuzzi for the top 6.

35. Thomas is the perfect fit.

36. Gladly Steve has passed on all these expensive high profile trades and patient enough to stick to a solid long term plan.

37. I used to hate Brad big time but over time I’ve come to really like him. Shoutout to Brad. He also knows ball not just puck🫡

38. Yes we need a top 6 forward and a top 4 DMAN but with 7 drafts under SY's belt with a ridiculous amount of draft picks we should have had that top 6 forward we lack right now (which I can forgive him for because we have a bunch coming in the future) but we should MOST definitely with the amount of picks SY spent on D early on have another top 4 by now. I looked back at Stevie's draft and outside of the first round they are atrocious. In 2019 we could have had the top 4 dman we need right now sitting lovely on the second pair in Lacrombe or Alex Vasic and SY chose a dman thats not even sniffing the NHL at the moment. There were a ton of dmen drafted in that second round that are in the NHL right now. In 2020, with 3 second rounders, 2 thirds and 2 4th, we could have easily had Brock Faber or Nikishin yet the 3 dmen SY took are not even NHL bottom 6 material right now. And I get it, lots of teams passed on them but we had 7 freaking picks in those 3 rounds and we picked 3 DMEN who couldn't hold Fabers or Nikishins jock straps. In 2021 we take Buium in the second when we could have had JJ Moser among others. Heck, we could have got that top 6 forward right now in Josh Doan or Mattew Knies or Stankoven or even Kapanen. In 2022 we take some guy in the second that will never see the NHL over Lane Hutson. My point being with that amount of picks in SY's first 4 drafts we no doubt should have had the top 4 dman we need right now and even the top 6 forward we are lacking. SY's picks outside of the first round are just embarrassing. From 2019-2022, 4 NHL drafts with the most picks in the league during that span THE ONLY GUY SY drafted that's making an impact right now is our bottom 6 dman in Albert Johanson. Soderblum is not even relevant at this point so LET THIS SINK IN: the only guy making an impact on this current team in SY's first 4 drafts(outside of the first round) with the most picks in the league is our bottom 6 dman in Johasson. Crazy. SY's piss poor drafting outside the first round in general..especially in his first 4 seasons.. have really hurt the development of this team.

39. Comment on M$50.-… "Are You High?" Mr. Y. probably said, "Are You on Crack?"

40. This 1-3-1 stretch is why I’m still mad that they couldn’t beat an injured Charlie Lindgren (currently on IR and week-to-week) in the shootout against Washington. 2-3-0 in the last 5 is easier to stomach than 1-3-1. On the bright side 14 of 16 Western conference road games have been played (9-4-1 in those games). Last 2 are in Nashville and Dallas. So travel fatigue will be on their side down the stretch with only two games outside the eastern time zone.

41. We need to get another center, Thomas would be great as would Pettersson (if Vancouver eats some $$$, sorry Evan but it's true) because as much as I believe Larkin's hockey IQ isn't where a top center should be, if he gets injured we are in big, big trouble. Yes, we for sure need another top defenseman (look what happened with Edvinsson out), but man, please get us another center. You could argue either Thomas or Pettersson (providing a change of scenery snaps him out of his funk), could even be our TOP centerman. Come on Stevie!

42. No Yzerman doesn't need to make a deal. They are not ready yet to start giving up draft picks and assets to make a run. The goal isn't to make the playoffs only to get bounced in the first round. Remember that last years of Ken Holland. I don't think anyone wants to go back there.

43. the more i think about the quinn hughes deal, and if its true that he wanted to come to detroit, then yzerman needed to make that deal and take the chance that you can convince him to sign while he's there. everything with yzerman seems to be so calculated that he's completely unwilling to roll the dice. idk. maybe i'm just frustrated. also, on another note, these no trade clauses are so bad for the league. they should be banned. these guys are paid millions of dollars a year. they can't have their cake and eat it too.

44. Evan, do you have a warrant out for you? 😂 the only one not to say your last name. I've always found it funny but it works to end the intro😂❤

45. If what you are reporting about Thomas is true, there is no way Yzerman is paying that. Not even half of that. So, let’s forget about him.

46. We all have trade priorities and opinions. Here is mine: face reality and shore up that defense, or likely miss the playoffs again for tenth straight year. Using the Carson Soucy trade as a barometer, here are a few vague ideas.

    1.)Trade for UFA right Defenseman Connor Murphy from the Blackhawks for maybe Hamonic and a third round pick (rough estimate value.)

    2.) Trade for Defenseman Justin Faulk (signed through next year) from the Blues for a second rounder and Eric Gustaffson. They owe us a very small favor for getting Bergrren for free on waivers, which is totally irrelevant LOL. Add a B prospect like Becher, if necessary.

    3.) Finally, add a third needed defenseman (ASP will be running on fumes by playoffs) by trading for Logan Stanley from the Jets for Bernard-Docker, Carter Mazur, and Justin Holl as financial balance.

    Don't like the offers? Add a 2nd, 3rd or 4th round pick if necessary to any of these three trades instead of or in addition to our deadweight defensemen offered.

    Or…swing higher for better second pairing defensemen, adding Buium and Willander to the possible mix. Here are some alternative offers.

    Trade for Marcus Pettersson of the Vancouver Petterssons. He would be a great long-term addition, but he would cost a lot more than we might want to pay. (Maybe a package around Lombardi?) Mario Ferraro with SJS is probably not even available. Same with Mackenzie Weegar in Calgary, or even Fowler with the Blues.

    All would be big upgrades on defense. Johansson ideally should be our 7th defenseman, come playoff time. Injuries are a real concern for the top six defensemen, so he could fill in when needed.

    The overall need for three more quality, additional defensemen is really the key to just making the playoffs, IMHO. We have a tough schedule (top 5) the rest of the way and Edvinsson is hurt as well.

    We need 2 decent defenseman added, minumum. Three savvy defensive upgrades without overpaying might actually help win us a round in the playoffs. Dumping our UFAs to Western Conference teams who are clearly out of the playoffs now and possibly tanking would be a great plan. Also, we lose only second round picks and below in these semi-realistic trade scenarios.

    This all a dream, since every other contending team can beat these trade offers at the March 6 trade. Stevie Y will not make 3 trades in reality, regardless. He definitely should upgrade with at least two playoff caliber defenseman. ASP has a good future, but he is almost toast (defensively), due to the long season. We have Seider, Edvinsson, Chiarot, and Johansson to rely on. Need three more who are better than the rest we currently dress. Just my opinion, and I could be wrong.

47. If the Sabres would've won tonight, we'd be in a wild card spot. Todd is gonna cattle prod them, hopefully. The team will hopefully also be fired up about their teammates playing in the Olympics. We need this team to be fired up like crazy after the Olympics. I hope we commit like we did against the Avs after they stomped us. It's time to knuckle down

48. Why are we ok to throw everything at Thomas when we wouldn't for a legit, generational talent like Hughes, who by the way, actually would have came here which is half the battle for any good player. SMH, who cares if it's only 1.5 years, it was Quinn Hughes. You don't worry about that, you get him and convince him to stay. It's hard to listen to any crazy prices for just guys… Thomas is a hell of a player but doesn't move the needle like Hughes. Why pay the same price for extra term at low cost when the cap is going up? To me we already lost out on our best chance to actually noticeably improve our team with a trade. We always said, if a legit superstar is available at all you do it no matter what. He was there and we sat on our hands. The only thing to make it worse would be to over pay for a 2C.