The Silver Lining Of the Red Wings Trade Deadline

Are you upset with the deadline? I was too, but after some time has passed, I’ve noticed there is quite a bit to look forward to. The trade deadline has become more than a day’s worth of activities. Many teams like to be proactive for days or even weeks beforehand. Detroit was rumoured to be one of the biggest sellers this year, yet we only moved Petr Mrazek and Tomas Tatar. In addition to this, to everyone’s shock, Mike Green and Xavier Ouellet stayed in Hockeytown. This feels like an underwhelming deadline, but you shouldn’t be too upset about today’s events. Here’s why:

First of all, we have the most draft picks (11) of any team in 2018 – assuming McCollum doesn’t play 15 games in the NHL. That’s a great thing.

Second, we will probably gain more. Gustav Nyquist remains a Red Wing but he will be some great draft floor currency. Nyquist could net a mid to late first round pick on the floor. OR, he will be deadline fodder next season in the rental’s market. Either way, he will surely get us more. 

And man oh man we could all taste the Luke Glendening freedom. But guess what? This time next season, he’ll be even easier to move with one less year on his deal. This also applies to Darren Helm. Don’t think Detroit failed miserably; they will continue to look to move these guys again next year.

Everyone is subject to recency bias, I get it. But if you told me at the start of the day we’d bring in a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd but didn’t tell me who was leaving us, I’d be ecstatic. This is a hell of a draft year and one thing Vegas doesn’t know is that they’re going to be a first-round exit and they’re not going to be nearly as good next season.

Keep your chins up Wings fans, when was the last time Detroit had 2 first round picks?

Looking ahead….

June 22nd & 23rd – NHL Entry Draft

We play 7 games in the last 2 weeks of the season;

I can’t emphasize the importance of this stretch because we’ll be battling with Buffalo, Ottawa, and Montreal in the lottery.

Obviously moving more players was what we all wanted and it would help accelerate the rebuild, but it’s going to take time to move on from the contracts we’ve handed out. Hang in there Wings fans; it’s a big off season.