The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun offer “what we’re hearing” regarding every team’s trade deadline plans, and there are no surprises regarding the Red Wings’ decision-making processes:
Detroit Red Wings
With an elusive playoff spot in their grasp and Andrew Copp done for the season, the Red Wings have the right mix of cap space and incentive to do something interesting at this deadline. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee that GM Steve Yzerman will go all in on a headline-grabbing move. But after years of patiently building, and with last season’s near-miss on a playoff return still fresh in mind, there has to be a temptation to put the cap space to use. The Red Wings could certainly use a little more depth both at forward and on the blue line.
Continued (paywall); again, I don’t expect the Wings to make a “rental” move here. At this point, if the Wings can add some players who will fill their needs at center and on defense over the long haul, that’s great; if not, then that’s okay, too.
