The NHL season has reached the Olympic Break and the Detroit Red Wings currently sit in third place in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings before the break went 2-3-2 and in that stretch, they were without defenseman Simon Edvinsson which showed off some glaring needs as the trade deadline is about to hit two weeks after the roster freeze is lifted. Red Wings general manager said at the trade deadline he is looking for a second-line center along with a defenseman.

Edvinsson is expected back once the Olympic break ends but the last stretch showed more holes, what if Edvinsson’s not ready to be back, or what if he comes back and someone else goes down? So defense is a huge need at the deadline. As for the second line center, many expected Marco Kasper to fill that role and take a jump this season but he just hasn’t, so for a team sitting right in a playoff spot they could benefit from moving current second line center Andrew Copp down to the third line. So now what names could they look into to fill those holes?

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Center

Ryan O’Reilly 

O’Reilly would bring some grit to the lineup at the second line center spot. This season in 57 games with Nashville he has 56 points on 20 goals and 36 assists. He’s a plus-eight with three power play goals, two shorthanded goals, and five game-winning goals. 

Steven Stamkos 

Stamkos would be a pipe dream but he’d bring scoring to the Red Wings as well, 610 career goals to be exact. In 57 games this season he has 44 points on 28 goals and 16 assists. He’s a -16 with nine power play goals and nine game-winning goals. Stamkos alone in the locker room could be a boost to someone like Kasper but he could also add to his scoring if he were to be on a line with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. 

Robert Thomas

A trade with the Blues that has the Red Wings tied to it just always makes sense. Thomas would fill the hole needed and could be a package with someone mentioned in the defensive hole. Thomas in 42 games this season has 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists. He’s a minus-three with three power play goals and two shorthanded goals.

Vincent Trocheck

Another interesting name for the Red Wings. The Rangers are in fire sale having already moved Artemi Panarin, now focus can shift to other pieces. Trocheck in 43 games has 36 points on 12 goals and 24 assists. He’s a -16 with one power play goal, a shorthanded goal, and a game-winning goal.

Nazem Kadri

Kadri has been talked about for a bit now but the salary may be a hesitation. In 56 games this season he has 39 points on ten goals and 29 assists. He’s a -24 with two power play goals and a game-winning goal. 

Jonathan Toews 

It would be so much fun to see Toews reunited with Kane and have a chance to win another Stanley Cup. Winnipeg hasn’t had the season they expected and could be looking to move pieces. Toews with his age may not cost as much either. In 56 games he has 19 points on seven goals and 12 assists. He’s a -17 with three power play goals. He can also still win faceoffs with a 61% faceoff percentage. 

Defenseman 

Justin Faulk 

Faulk was the name that could go in a package with Thomas and would add a nice right-shot defenseman who can go on the other side of Ben Chiarot. In 57 games this season he has 30 points on 11 goals and 19 assists. He’s a minus-three with two power play goals, three game-winning goals, 97 blocked shots, and 44 total hits. 

Tyler Myers

Myers has had his worst season this year and could benefit from a change of scenery. Another right-shot defenseman. In 57 games this season he has eight points on a goal and seven assists. He is a -25 with 91 blocked shots and 65 total hits.

Mario Ferraro 

Ferraro in 55 games this season has 12 points on four goals and eight assists. He has a minus-two with 105 blocked shots and 94 total hits. The Sharks have a logjam at defense and even with the depth they have there and their injury history it’s allowing a team fighting for a playoff spot a chance to move pieces to benefit them now.

MacKenzie Weegar 

Weegar is a name I mentioned a few weeks back where a Kadri and Weegar package would be interesting. The issue is the salary cap. Maybe the Flames would retain some to make a trade happen. Either way, Weegar would be a huge addition for Detroit. In 56 games he has 20 points on three goals and 17 assists. He has a -32 with 129 blocked shots and 127 total hits. 

Morgan Rielly

Rielly is a huge pipe dream. It’s unlikely Toronto would move him and more so to someone in their own division. In 54 games he has 31 points on seven goals and 24 assists. He has a -17 with a power play goal, two game-winning goal, 74 blocked shots, and 21 hits.

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.