from TSN,
The Detroit Red Wings appear to set their course as sellers ahead of the trade deadline and TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the team is open to the possibility of moving more than just their pending unrestricted free agents.
The Red Wings suffered another key loss in the playoff race to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday and - amid a three-game skid - have slipped to five points back of the final wild-card spot which they held last week.
LeBrun reports that the Red Wings are looking to trade pending UFA Tyler Bertuzzi and forward Jakub Vrana, while winger Filip Zadina could also potentially be traded before Friday's deadline.
"The Red Wings are just recognizing that the arms race in the East is just too rich," LeBrun said on Insider Trading. "So they can't allow Bertuzzi to walk in a free agency for nothing. So they're looking to move him they're looking to move [Jakub] Vrana. And they're also talking about the possibility of trading Filip Zadina who is a 23 years old with term, so some interesting things in Detroit."
13-5-4 .681 gets them to 94 points, where Pittsburgh is headed at current pace for the #1 WC spot.
Even without considering the tough Division opponents thats a tall order.
If the Wings cant make it, Im going to pull for Buffalo.
I think Stevie might've missed the market window to sell high, he's not going to get the same level of return other trades brought, teams left will bargain hunt, and there is still other talent avaiable.
Doubtful on Bertuzzi. He's the playoff type player GM's drool over.
The Wings have space to take a bad contract back and make room for him on any team if the return is enough. They have 4M in dead cap money coming off the books this summer too. Next year they project to have 34M in cap minus Larkin's 9M (for sake of argument) means 25M with only Veleno's bridge deal (and maybe Suter if he really wants to be a 4th line centre).
LHD prospects are also trading chips as the Wings have way too many.
Maybe, but the guy never played even 1 playoff game in the NHL
Think SY saw how soft of a team this was relative to the up and coming OTT team. The 2nd game in a row where the team had to respond was the deciding factor (at least the look TSN provided after the game showed SY's face with a look of well that is decided then)
Bertuzzi = UFA that is seeking max dollars so must be traded. Look for CAR, MIN, or WIN to get him. See the return as a conditional 2nd and a recent 1-2 rounder. MIN has Marco Rossi who has struggled to stay in the NHL (as he's been in the press box) after making the team out of training camp.
Suter = UFA that could have 2nd most trade value. Late 3rd pick if lucky?
prospect LHD = okay take the Suter thing back. (Buium, Johansson, McIsaac, Sebrango, Viro, and maybe even Wallinder) there's the 2nd most trade value.
Hagg = depth d-man every team wants at the deadline for a late 4th round pick.
Sundqvist = like watching a sundial move. You can't call him soft because he's so far behind the play. It's like playing keep away with a toddler. Take a 6th round pick if you can get it.
Erne = depth 4th liner that might be better playoff player than regular season player.
Zadina = guy that needs a change of scenery. Draft bust that still will be a useful NHL player--but will be a middle six and 3rd line guy at best. Swap for similarly struggling prospect.
Nedeljkovic = 3rd goalie every team would look at if the Wings ate 50% of his salary.
Vrana = throw in piece (since he already cleared waivers). Probably going to have to eat some salary to move him. Soft edge player that is exactly what they need to cut loose from after seeing the last 3 games. Doubtful, he gets moved for anything meaningful.
If there is a hockey trade to be made with one of the other roster players (outside Seider, Raymond, or top prospects) go for it. The team has plenty of cap space (and gets 4M off its books in dead cap space from Panik's, Nielsen's, and a chunk of Abdelkader's contracts come off the books this summer).
So I guess now I will watch Tradecentre Friday followed by the NFL draft combine...hopefully a slow day at work.
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