The NHL’s website has posted a “Trade Buzz” article that happens to include some familiar “buzz” about the Red Wings’ possible trades:
Coach Jeff Blashill said goaltender Petr Mrazek will start at Carolina on Friday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-D, NHL.TV), which could provide another opportunity to showcase the 25-year-old goaltender for a possible trade.
It will be the fourth start in five games for Mrazek, a pending restricted free agent who is looking like a valuable commodity again. After going 3-5-1 with an .885 save percentage in his first 12 games this season, he has gone 3-0-1 with a .965 save percentage in his past five games.
The Red Wings (20-21-8) are likely to be sellers. With 48 points, they are eight behind the Flyers for the second wild card into the playoffs from the East. They have four teams to leapfrog and are bunched with the Florida Panthers (48 points) and Montreal Canadiens (46).
Defenseman Mike Green is the most likely candidate to move; he’s a pending unrestricted free agent who has 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 49 games and a coveted right-handed shot. He could fit on the third pair and the power play for a Stanley Cup contender.
But the Red Wings need to look at other opportunities to add assets for the future, and Mrazek might be able to fetch something, especially if he continues to play well.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the goalies.
It’ll certainly be interesting to see what happens here. We have a lot of players with NMCs and NTCs, and a whole lot of salary on the books, as well as kids that need new deals moving forward.
My best case hope is that someone wants Howard (maybe we keep a bit of $?) and Mrazek proves he’s the goaltender everyone thought he would be two years ago.
In my humble opinion there are 3 trades that need to happen, and before anyone reacts this is a perfect world scenario. Trade Green if he accepts it. Hope for a 1st, expect a second and third. Trade a goalie. The way Mrazek is playing now the front office is in what the hell do we do mode. You can not keep him and howard when it will cost 4 million to qualify Mrazek. Trade one of Nyquist or Tatar. Dont need both and overpaid for both. Tatar is not a 5 million dollar a year player, Nyquist fits ok at his 4mill plus but is due a new contract. Wings are eating dead salary on all but a Green trade no way around it.
Trading XO does nothing, doesnt clear cap space, doesnt really do anything. I still think the kid is a solid 3rd pair D.
They wont dump Helm, Abby, Big E, or Glennie so we gotta deal with that