![\"Arseny](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ArsenyGritsyuk1-1024x512.png\")
Russian rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk | Seth Wenig \u2013 AP<\/p>\nI\u2019m not a believer in offer sheets as a legitimate method of improving your roster. Most of the time you\u2019ll see the offer sheet matched, or you\u2019ll be creating an enemy out of another team\u2019s general manager. There\u2019s been plenty of talk about potentially offer sheeting Leo Carlsson, a move that would certainly sever ties between Steve Yzerman and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek. The same general manager who has done a series of favors for Detroit, such as taking Robby Fabbri and Ville Husso\u2019s contracts and giving us a great price on John Gibson. So, you can see why teams prioritize a healthy relationship with other managers more than making bold offer sheets every summer.<\/p>\n
Any news you\u2019re reading online about offer sheets is likely all just for clicks. But, the doesn\u2019t mean some of the NHL\u2019s restricted free agents are going to move, it just means that it\u2019s likely going to be through trades. For the Red Wings, that was always going to be the most likely option anyway. <\/p>\n
Who might become vulnerable enough for the Red Wings to take a serious look at making a deal to acquire? <\/p>\n
Arseny Gritsyuk<\/p>\n
Russian rookie forward Arseny Gritsyuk | Seth Wenig \u2013 AP<\/p>\n
Frankly, I don\u2019t know that a good rookie campaign for Gritsyuk was a good thing for the New Jersey Devils, who remain cap-strapped. The Russian forward scored 31 points in 66 games playing on the third line for the Devils. The speedy forward is up for a new deal, and the Devils might not have the money to get it done.<\/p>\n
The Devils still don\u2019t have a contract for former second overall pick Simon Nemec. With two big-name restricted free agents coming up at the same time and only $10.9M to do it, there is a reality where one of them is on the move. They\u2019ve tried to move defenseman Dougie Hamilton for a while now, according to reports, and that avenue doesn\u2019t seem very likely anymore. Unless Nico Hischier truly is on the way out, I don\u2019t see an avenue to extend both RFAs and improve the roster this offseason.<\/p>\n
Because of this, I think the Devils would at least humor a deal for Gritsyuk. If it\u2019s available, I\u2019d pretty happily take him in Detroit. I think he\u2019s certainly a better gamble on a top-line winger than some of the other names out there, like Kent Johnson or Mason McTavish.<\/p>\n
New Jersey needs some kind of shakeup. Frankly, anyone they let go is probably worth pursuing given the current state of the Red Wings. The name I\u2019d have my eye on more than anything is Hischier. But don\u2019t be surprised if another piece, like Gritsyuk, becomes available. <\/p>\n
Pavel Mintyukov<\/p>\n
![\"Pavel](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Best-photos-1-1024x512.png\")
Pavel Mintyukov for the Anaheim Ducks | Photo: NHL I via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Red Wings have an organizational lack of left-shot defensemen. I\u2019d like a serious upgrade on the left side, preferably with some size and term, and Pavel Mintyukov of the Anaheim Ducks fits the bill pretty well. At 6\u20191\u2033 and 207 lbs, the frame is solid, but the physical and defensive game could use some pretty serious help. All in all, it\u2019s certainly a more educated risk than the Red Wings have currently.<\/p>\n
It stems from the Ducks having a lot of deals to get done. While their $37,773,395 in cap space looks like a lot on paper, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier will easily eat up more than half of that. They also need to sign four more defensemen to be able to field a blue line of similar quality to their playoff pairings. Mintyukov has had his name in trade talks since October. With the Ducks looking to save cap space where possible, Mintyukov might be the casualty.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think it would be too expensive for the Red Wings to take him on. I could see them simply swapping him for Albert Johansson and a pick. Pavel Mintyukov\u2019s underlying numbers aren\u2019t promising, consistently having his defensive metrics look very poor. Not to mention his hits per game went down from over one per game to about half a hit per game this season.<\/p>\n
There is clearly a need for a guy like Mintyukov in Detroit long term, so I\u2019d be pretty comfortable taking him on to help out the left side long term. At his best, he\u2019s the kind of guy I want next to Sandin-Pellikka long term.<\/p>\n
Peyton Krebs<\/p>\n
![\"Lindy](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Buffalo-Sabres-1024x512.png\")
Buffalo Sabres bench under Lindy Ruff with Krebs (third from left) | Photo: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
It took Peyton Krebs a bit longer than expected to break out, but this season with Buffalo, he looked pretty solid. The best tool he has is his skating, something the Red Wings need pretty desperately. Peyton Krebs plays at a higher gear than most of the NHL and is comfortably quicker than most Red Wings, even Emmitt Finnie. <\/p>\n
Beyond that, in just 13:46 per game, Krebs was able to produce 39 points in 82 games this past season, with only one coming on the power play. Despite being 25, he\u2019s been taking strides the past three seasons in a row, and I genuinely think there is a solid 50-point player there in the right situation. Partly because of how well he played alongside Buffalo\u2019s best players.<\/p>\n
On the wing beside Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson, Krebs was a +10 with solid possession metrics. There\u2019s some pretty solid reason to believe he could step onto the Red Wings top line beside Larkin and Raymond and become a pretty solid even-strength producer who helps address the Red Wings speed problem.<\/p>\n
As with all the teams I\u2019ve mentioned before, Buffalo is going to be up against the cap. They need to keep Zach Benson around after his great regular season and playoffs, and they can\u2019t afford to lose the production that Alex Tuch brought them. With under $12,000,000 to make it work, a guy like Krebs will probably end up as the odd man out. It would certainly be worth a shot for the Red Wings to make it work.<\/p>\n
More to Read<\/p>\n
I get it, it\u2019s not Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, or Adam Fantilli. Believe me, I\u2019d love those guys too, but with the cap rising and teams understanding the importance of keeping star players, they aren\u2019t likely to move. Don\u2019t get me wrong, if they\u2019re out there, Detroit should be pushing to get them. But, for now, I think these are pretty realistic avenues to improvement for Detroit.<\/p>\n
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