There’s a lot of news out right now. I do these every once in a while, usually using my player calculator formula, but this time I’ve decided against it. I’m just going to keep things simple and go off the general understandings of the players.
The most questionable of all the rumours surrounding the Red Wings are the ones related to Nate Danielson. According to a source that largely hasn’t been named or confirmed, the Red Wings had an offer for Rasmus Andersson that included Nate Danielson and a first round pick being sent the other way. So let’s do a headcount on the team and discuss who is actually on the table.
Untouchables:
Moritz Seider for the Detroit Red Wings | Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Moritz Seider:
Seider has broken out big time this season. Offensively and defensively, Seider has been one of Detroit’s biggest X-factors in pretty much every single game. The jump in his offensive game has impressed me most. He’s always been one of the best players in his own zone. I just never took him as a potential 70-point guy. With him probably being a top-five Norris candidate, there is no reason that Detroit would entertain a move that involves Moritz Seider.
Lucas Raymond:
Despite having a pretty bad goal drought in December, Lucas Raymond has largely been Detroit’s most dominant forward. Admittedly, he was at his best with Larkin and DeBrincat, which is a line that is scarcely together, but he has been effective throughout the lineup. Recently, he’s been great across from James Van Riemsdyk,k and there might be a real reason to keep them together and move Larkin to center. Detroit’s star boy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Alex DeBrincat:
This is the second season in a row DeBrincat has been Detroit’s 1B for best forward. He also does it without being beside that aforementioned Larkin and Raymond pair. DeBrincat is a guy who clearly loves the team and the city. He’s someone that this team can build around as an elite offensive player who will compete every single game to make his presence felt. I don’t think Yzerman would consider anything involving the cat.
Dylan Larkin:
Similar to Raymond, after a slower December, Larkin is continuing on a good campaign this season. The Red Wings captain is a big game player who has a few of the biggest wins as a team coming solely from him. Dallas, Tampa Bay, and Edmonton come to mind as games that have been stolen by Detroit’s leader. Larkin stays, or we riot.
Simon Edvinsson:
Look, I probably wouldn’t have him this high, but if Yzerman wouldn’t trade him for Quinn Hughes, he probably wouldn’t trade him at all. I do really like Edvinsson. He’s a great player and is the guy I want playing next to Seider for the next decade. He’s a big defenceman with some solid upside. I think through practice, Edvinsson is here.
Needs a Good Offer:
Axel Sandin-Pellikka for Detroit | Photo: Dave Reginek/GettyImages
Axel Sandin-Pellikka:
ASP has been pretty decent for Detroit. I’d imagine if a superstar like Robertson or Hughes needed him in a package, Detroit might see themselves parting ways with Sandin-Pellikka. Other than that, though, I think Yzerman would like to keep Sandin-Pellikka as the offensive weapon on the blue line that every good team has in the modern NHL.
Emmitt Finnie:
The rookies are all going to have essentially the same little bio here. They’re all pieces that Yzerman sees in the future of this team, but if a true superstar comes along, they’re on the table. Finnie has been really solid for Detroit, and those bottom-nine grinders are crucial to any team’s playoff run, and Yzerman knows it well with the grind line.
Nate Danielson:
So what Danielson didn’t stick in his first stint. I think his scoring touch is still pretty weak, but other than that, there is a lot to like with him. I still believe the ceiling can be pretty high, but it’s going to take him putting on some serious muscle for his shot. Again, not untouchable but certainly someone they wanna keep.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård:
I think MBN might actually be as valuable as ASP or Danielson is right now. Something about him cracking the NHL roster in only his second year after the draft that sets him apart from his peers. His numbers in the AHL are also fantastic for someone who just made the jump to American ice.
Marco Kasper:
Kasper is starting to run out of runway for me. I love Kasper, but his play is borderline bad right now. He can’t produce even next to Dylan Larkin, and they’ve tried him just about everywhere. I had a lot of faith in Kasper, and I still do, but patience is starting to wear thin amongst Red Wings fans, and I think Yzerman would seriously consider a trade.
Andrew Copp:
Would you believe me if I told you that I was starting to think Andrew Copp is probably going to be here a while? Truthfully, he’s the only player whom I trust as a middle-six centre as of right now, and I think he would be good at wing. Frankly, that contract that we complained about for a while looks okay now. I don’t think Yzerman has a reason to deal Copp, so I think it would take a really decent return to do so.
Patrick Kane:
I’m close to putting him into that untouchable category because of how much he means to this team. I think there is a world where, because he is on a bunch of one-year deals, if Detroit starts to bomb, they will deal him to a contender. But otherwise, I think Showtime is going to be in Detroit for a long time.
John Gibson:
Gibson has been stellar for a while. I think that I’m pretty comfortable saying that Detroit won’t move him during his tenure in Detroit. I could see something down the line if the roadblock with Cossa and Augustine becomes a problem, but even that is a good problem to have.
Trade Fodder:
Luostarinen shot defended by Talbot | (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Cam Talbot:
There are only so many goalies in the NHL who are in a position to be moved. One of them has recently become Cam Talbot by no fault of his own. I think that the surge of both Gibson and Cossa has given Detroit a reason to at least entertain trade rumours for Talbot. Knowing his contract expires at the end of the season, a deal to a contender like Edmonton may be beneficial to both sides.
Michael Rasmussen:
Since late November, Rasmussen has been much better. He is becoming a solid two-way bottom-six forward that can play center or wing and kill penalties. His scoring has improved from where it was as of late. A team that could use a flexible forward with some size would likely be in on him.
Ben Chiarot:
This comes down to whether Ben Chiarot wants to stay in Detroit. A lot of the hardest minutes of his career have come in Detroit, and I’d imagine contenders would love his services. If he isn’t interested in staying, there are a lot of teams in the NHL that would love a guy who plays the game that Ben Chiarot does.
Mason Appleton:
Mason Appleton has come as advertised. Great. At his best, he has been even better than expected with a Lin-Sanity run on the top line in Raymond’s absence. I think a lot of teams would like his services. I just don’t know that Detroit would deal him so soon after signing him.
James Van Riemsdyk:
JVR is only in this category because I don’t think he is in the plans for the future because of his age. Personally, I would love to keep JVR more than anything. He’s been fantastic and up to any task. He would garner some attention for teams that need bottom-six scoring, but I doubt Yzerman would humour anything unless it was a steal.
2026 First Round Pick
This is the first time in a long time that this is on the table. With Detroit being in such a great spot currently, where their pick wouldn’t be too great and their prospects looking great, why not? I could see this being one of the best available pieces to trade.
Albert Johansson:
I don’t know who would actually want him, given his poor play this season, but I’m sure he could be an added asset to a lot of deals that teams might want to take as a sweetener.
Negative Asset:
Compher against Matthews | Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP
J.T. Compher:
The contract is huge, and unlike Copp, we haven’t really seen him make up for it. Raymond and JVR have been dragging him up recently, but I still don’t see him being someone on anyone’s trade list.
Jacob Bernard-Docker:
For a guy I liked a lot at the start of the season, he’s been pretty bad. Detroit is more likely to explore options to replace him before they ever get a call inquiring about him for a trade.
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