Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson offers a trade deadline target for every NHL team this morning, and I’m going to have to politely disagree with Richardson regarding his suggested deadline pick-up:
Detroit Red Wings: David Savard
The Detroit Red Wings could attempt to bolster their blue-line depth by the trade deadline. Veteran defenseman Jeff Petry has been sidelined since Jan. 2 and underwent surgery on Feb. 2, putting him on the shelf for six to eight weeks.
Because the Wings have been winning with Petry on the sidelines, they don’t have to rush into finding a suitable replacement. Nevertheless, adding a shutdown blueliner would ensure sufficient defensive depth as they attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
David Savard could be a worthwhile option if the Montreal Canadiens become trade-deadline sellers. The 33-year-old is a reliable right-shot shutdown rearguard who won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021. His $3.5 million cap hit would fit easily within the Wings’ projected $12.6 million cap space.
Continued; given the emergence of Albert Johansson as a stalwart on the Simon Edvinsson pairing, I just don’t see the point of adding an older defenseman who’d most likely serve as a rental.
If the Wings can improve their blueline over the long haul, I’m fine with the team making a pick-up, but if we’re talking about expending assets on rentals alone, I’m just not interested, especially given that the Wings are basically at a 50-50 chance of actually making the playoffs.
