from John Niyo of the Detroit News,

Howard is well aware the NHL trade deadline is looming in late February and the Red Wings clearly are earmarked as sellers for a third consecutive season. Likewise, general manager Ken Holland knows he’ll have some decisions to make in the coming weeks, with a handful of pending free agents — Howard, Gustav Nyquist, Niklas Kronwall, Tomas Vanek and Nick Jensen — and perhaps a few other players (Mike Green, Trevor Daley, Luke Glendening) drawing some interest around the league as well.

Just how much interest remains to be seen in what looks to be a buyer’s market. The sort of haul Holland landed from Las Vegas in the Tomas Tatar deadline deal likely won’t materialize this time around for Nyquist, though perhaps a team like Colorado or Edmonton will come calling.

And in Howard’s case, it may take more than a significant injury elsewhere to create a desperate buyer among the playoff contenders. It might take a significant offer for Holland to pull the trigger, partly because the Wings are interested in bringing him back for more.

“Obviously, it depends what I’m thinking but it also depends on what Jimmy’s thinking,” Holland told Sirius NHL Radio last week. “But certainly he has played great, so I’ve got to sit down and talk with him here as we head up toward the trade deadline.”

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I do hope Niyo realizes the return for trading a pending UFA usually does not get the same type of return when trading a player (Tatar) who is signed through the 2020-21 season.