Red Wings at the Trade Deadline
2017-03-14Detroit started the season slow then picked up their game after having one of the better offensive units in the league but their defensive play just couldnt catch up with them and they started to get in a real funk and played themselves right out of a playoff spot. GM Valle decided to make some moves in order to retool for next season and beyond. Let's take a look at some of the the deals they pulled the trigger on.
Detroit - Montreal
Petr Mrazek - Adam Fox (MTL 1st)
The Wings started things off slowly a little while before the deadline by striking a deal with Montreal who they have a close connection with. The Wings sent Petr Mrazek for a top denfensive prospect in Adam Fox and a potential top 15 (1st round pick) though if Montreal has anything to say about that, that could easily turn into a pick later in the round.
Wings knew they wouldn't be able to keep the tandem of Mrazek and Hellebuyck togethter with the expansion draft coming up as one of them would have to be left unprotected and most likely picked up so when a offer came of a potential top 4 dman and a 1st round pick the Wings knew they had to jump on it.
Detroit - New Jersey
Rozsival (NJ 7th)
Once Detroit knew they would most likely not make the playoffs they started selling off their pieces to contending teams. Rozsival wanted a chance to play for a contender and New Jersey needed another top 6 defender so they took a chance on rental Rozsival for a 7th rounder.
Detroit - St Louis
Comeau - Dyson Stevenson (STL 6th)
Another piece that the Wings felt didnt fit in and was at contracts end was Blake Comeau, though he had brought great energy and 2 way play to the Wings 3rd line while also helping to bring along young talented forward Drouin the Wings knew he most likely would be going elsewhere next season so they got a 6th rounder for him.
Detroit - Nashville
Torey Krug - Madison Bowey and Brock Boeser
This trade was very hard to pull the trigger on as Krug is only 25 and still a RFA at contracts end and had been one of the few bright spots on the defensive unit along with Vatanen. After posting 11 goals last season but only 2 this year he still had put up a good number of assists and helped carry their PP unit. Krug should get a nice re-rate next season and help Nashville out.
Coming back to the Wings however was Vancouver's top prospect Brock Boeser and Washington's top prospect Madison Bowey. Bowey in his final season with the Rockets posted 60 points in 58 games and another 19 points in 19 playoff games so the offense is there for him, now lets just hope he can transition that to the EHE. Boeser who has a freshmen lead North Dakota in scoring and a National Championship last year will hope he can bring that to the Wings, though the Wings wont rush him as they are deep in the Wing Department ( No pun intended)
Detroit - Edmonton
Anders Nilsson - Jonathan Bernier (Edm 7th)
The Wings traded waiver pick up from early this season Nilson to the Oilers for Bernier and a 7th rounder. Nilson came out of the gate hot for the Wings and postioned them for one of the final spots in the playoffs but after a hot start he came back down to earth and was under .500 In Bernier the Wings get a 1B starter or a great back up that can play more then your average back up. Adding the 7th also helps the Wings in adding more prospects this off-season.