With the NHL trade deadline looming at 3 p.m. Friday, the next two games carry extra scrutiny for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Wings (30-24-6) host the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday, and the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday. Center Michael Rasmussen skated Monday but isn’t taking contact after suffering a blow to the head Feb. 23, and he remains sidelined. His injury came a day after the Wings lost center Andrew Copp to season-ending shoulder surgery.
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The Wings won the first game without either available, rallying to come out on top at the Minnesota Wild. But now they’re coming off back-to-back losses, and their position inside the playoff picture is in jeopardy.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save as Detroit Red Wings center Marco Kasper (92) looks for a rebound during the first period at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
“Everyone in here is very determined and very aware of the situation and what we need to do,” Lucas Raymond said. ‘Very focused on completing the task. Everyone is very eager for it to go our way. These are the fun games to play, coming down the stretch, chasing a playoff spot.”
After posting a 2.70 goals-against average from Todd McLellan’s first game on Dec. 27 through Feb. 6, that’s ballooned to 4.33 over the past six games.
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“It’s the forwards, the D and the goaltending,” McLellan said. “Start in the crease – we have to get an extra save. The back end – we’ve been put in different situations where we’re a little bit aloof, a little bit careless at moments. Up front, our forwards have to give us a little more back pressure, take away that offensive gap, and play stronger as units of five. Everyone is involved in it, and we’re capable of it.”
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How the Wings fare the next two games may persuade general manager Steve Yzerman that he has to do something to strengthen the team. He has around $11 million in salary cap space. But the young players that would attract a trade partner – Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, Marco Kasper – are the ones the Wings can’t afford to give up. And the demand for a center may increase if the New Jersey Devils find out they’ll be without their top middle man, Jack Hughes, for an extended time.
That’s on top of already needing to address the lack of depth on defense where, with Jeff Petry rehabbing from surgery, William Lagesson sits atop the reserve chart.
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Yzerman and McLellan talk daily, and this week, the trade deadline is part of the conversations.
“There might be more questions about a player on another team, or our group, our chemistry as a team right now,” McLellan said. “Those are all important variables that have to be considered this time of year. But the communication is always there.”
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
Next up: Hurricanes
Matchup: Red Wings (30-24-4) vs. Carolina (35-22-4).
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Faceoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings trade deadline: Next 2 games big for Yzerman