The Detroit Red Wings are winning right now, however the gaps are showing. Gaps in defense continue to cause concern, although the team sits atop the Atlantic Division behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. Still, Detroit has won four straight games after falling to the Boston Bruins over a week ago. The team’s continued success puts Steve Yzerman in an interesting predicament.
Rasmus Andersson was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Red Wings were rumored to be interested, however they couldn’t secure Andersson’s services. Additionally, Detroit missed out on Quinn Hugheswhen he was traded by the Vancouver Canucks. The prevailing theory is that Steve Yzerman won’t part with high picks or prospects for a player without some guarantee of an extension.
Accordingly, the Red Wings seem unlikely to make a huge splash in the trade market right now. More names continue to be added to the market, however the competition for those players is fierce and the prices are high. Consequently, the Red Wings may have to find a way to the post season without the major upgrade that fans are hoping for.
The Red Wings “MVPs” continue to soar
John Gibson is a massive part of Detroit’s success for nearly two months. Gibson had a tough start to the year, however since the beginning of December he’s won 15 of 17 starts, with a .929 save % in that time. Additionally the Red Wings have only suffered back to back losses once in that timeframe. The Atlantic Division is the most competitive in the NHL, yet Detroit continues to hold onto a spot in the wild card race.
Alex Debrincat may well be number 2 on the Red Wings list of MVPs this season. Debrincat scored his 26th goal and 26th assist in the overtime win against the Ottawa Senators. Along with Andrew Copp, Debrincat has factored into both overtime winning goals in the past week. With 52 points in 50 games, Debrincat’s contributions cannot be understated in this pivotal season for Detroit.
James Van Riemsdyk is emerging as another candidate in the MVP debate for Detroit. JVR also had a slow start, however since December he continues to show up on the scoreboard night after night. Van Riemsdyk currently has 13 goals and 9 assists in 41 games. Additionally, he has 10 goals and 8 assists (18 points) his past 20 games. JVR’s impact is well beyond this $1 million dollar contract that he signed with Detroit over the past summer.
The Red Wings are still shopping for upgrades
The Red Wings continue to be mentioned as potential trade partners in multiple scenarios across the league. Names like Justin Faulk and Caron Soucy seem to be natural fits for the team’ glaring needs at defense. Elias Pettersson has been mentioned as a potentially franchise altering option that could also be available for Detroit. However, the price for these players may keep Detroit on the outside looking in.
Steve Yzerman is notoriously quiet when it comes to trade rumors, and this season is no different. Yzerman is rumored to be speaking to multiple teams, but details are sparse and lacking specifics. The Red Wings are pushing to make their first playoff appearance in almost ten years right now. That drought has tested the patience of fans, however Yzerman seems to be able to drown out the noise. If the Red Wings make a deal, it will have to balance the present with the future. As of now, Detroit won’t be easily separated from top prospects or high draft picks.
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