The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau suggests that the Red Wings and Maple Leafs should add assets through trade acquisitions:
The Red Wings have played well enough since changing coaches in late December to get back in the thick of the playoff race. They’re in the first wild-card spot, but one point separates four teams. They should add one or two assets to push them into the post-season.
The Red Wings could use help at both ends of the ice. They’re currently 19th overall in goals-for per game and goals-against per game. That’s a mediocrity that can’t continue if Detroit wants to tighten its grip on a playoff spot.
Yzerman has about $4.9 million in cap space, and he’s also got all of his first-round draft picks in the next three seasons. It’s time for him to put aside part of the future and send a first-rounder and/or above-average prospect to acquire a needle-mover and a depth component to solidify the Wings’ playoff push.
A third-line center like the Flyers’ Scott Laughton – who would also be a good fit with Toronto – has the talent to step in and give a bump in depth to the Red Wings. His $3-million salary makes him affordable for Detroit and the Leafs, and he has one more year left on his contract.
Continued; I’m going to remain pretty stubborn here. I don’t believe that the Red Wings should move any assets, present or future, unless the team can acquire a player who will be part of the team’s long-term future.
I could see the Wings adding another center or defenseman of the right-shooting variety, but the rental market is just not useful for the Wings to be dabbling in. The Wings have too many good prospects to waste the replaceable ones or draft picks on somebody who’s going to help for a couple of weeks and then bolt for free agency.
