The Peoples' Choice: Who do fans want the Red Wings to acquire?
I asked the community for their thoughts. They responded:
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is three days away. In Red Wings Land, it’s going to go one of two ways: a big splash happens, or the team adds around the margins. What (and who) will be affected remains to be seen. Still, to call it an exciting time is an understatement.
After all, the Wings could add a promising young center or a key difference-maker before the playoff push. They might even make a splash for a former 100-point player. While Steve Yzerman is far from a risk-taker, he’s never been shy about his team’s needs. This time around, he’s made it quite public that he’s looking for a second line center and a right handed defenseman.
This trade deadline, I’ve decided to take a different approach. Rather than pontificate on who I would like (as I’ve done over my last few pieces), I tapped the Red Wings creator community for their thoughts. Here’s what they had to say:
Trade need: Top center
Leading the charge on our conversation are my good friends at The Grind Line Podcast. Greg, Ryan, and Tyler have had me on a handful of times and I always leave feeling like I’ve learned something new. They’re on their A-game at all times, keeping casual and hardcore fans alike up-to-date on all things Hockeytown.
“If Yzerman wants a second line center he doesn’t need to look any further than Vincent Trocheck or Robert Thomas,” Greg said. “Trocheck brings the missing physical element and Selke level defense. Thomas provides much needed offensive, is young, and is locked up long-term on an extremely friendly contract. Steve has the assets to go get whoever he wants and now is the time to do it.”
The Grind Line Podcast is available on every streaming platform.
Another case for Robert Thomas
If you don’t listen to our next guests, you probably know who they are. (If neither of those things apply to you, what are you doing?). The Winged Wheel Podcast are an often-recording, frequently-tweeting trio of Canadians dedicated to covering the team we all love (or hate to love). Ryan Hana of the show (thanks Ryan!) reached out with his thoughts on the 2C conundrum:
“Going to take the most obvious, home run answer here and say Robert Thomas. He’s cost controlled at a number that matches the Red Wings core’s (read: insanely good team-value) for 5 more seasons after this one, 26 years old, plays a premium position, 2-way player that produces at roughly a point-per-game clip - the list goes on. The trade market rarely produces players who carry more than one or two of those qualities, and so it’s an exceptional opportunity for Detroit to get a player who has them all.
He’ll cost a pretty penny (3-4 1st round-equivalent assets, give or take) but he’s worth a pretty penny, and Detroit is flush with the assets to make it work.
Ryan and the rest of the WWP are longtime 313 Hockey allies. We salute them! You can find the WWP anywhere you get your podcasts.
Trade need: Top-four defenseman
Good defensemen are like pitchers in baseball: you can’t get enough of them. Devin Little of The Hockey Writers believes there’s a chance the Wings could score some real difference-makers.
“A veteran, no-frills right-handed defenseman of ta Connor Murphy mold could stabilize the blue line and wouldn’t require a significant investment to acquire.”
These are the days we’ve been talking about since the dog days of 2020. This is where stuff gets fun. - Devin Little, The Hockey Writers
“Having said that, I’d like to see the Red Wings make an honest effort to acquire Robert Thomas from the St. Louis Blues,” he added. “I think fans have long waited for Yzerman to show some of the trade magic he displayed during his days in Tampa Bay, and a move like this feels like something Yzerman would have done 10 years ago. “
Devin’s a powerhouse of a writer. He’s able to churn out pieces about the Red Wings at a clip I’ve never seen before. You can find examples of his work at The Hockey Writers, where he relentlessly covers the Winged Wheel we know and love.
Second-pairing, top-of-mind
Devin isn’t the only one who would love to see the Wings acquire a defenseman. Long-time 313 Hockey compatriot Brian Fisher of Locked on Red Wings thinks the team’s got their options cut out for them:
“As far as defense goes, there is a number of interesting players I’d be ok with depending on price,” Fisher said. “Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton, Mackenzie Weegar and even Rasmus Ristolanen fill a need for the roster. I don’t LOVE any of them, but I would like them all if the price makes sense, as they would raise the defense’s floor. Weegar probably has the highest ceiling in the short term but the term on his contract makes me uneasy.”
If you need to get your hockey fix and aren’t sure where to turn, Locked on Red Wings is the answer to the question you’ve been asking.
A case for both?
Who says the Wings have to settle for one? Why not get both a defenseman and a 2C? The Mexinadian, a writer-turned-YouTuber within the Wings community, wants both moves instead of just one.
“I’d like to see, at least two moves. Either a second line center like Thomas or Trocheck and a bottom pair RHD, or a 2nd pair RHD so you can move ASP down to the 3rd pair and one or two forwards who can help the bottom-six score a bit more. Can’t rely on James van Riemsdyk the entire time.”
Another option?
What if - and hear my next guest out here - the Wings target a first line winger? After all, Larkin and Raymond need their complementary line mate. Lars Thorsell, host of the one-man show The Swedish Winger, believes the answer lies in Nashville Predators right winger Luke Evangelista.
“Evangelista is primarily a playmaker,” Thorsell said. “My thinking is that he can help the Wings right now and become the long-term solution once Patrick Kane eventually retires.”
Evangelista, 24, has the remainder of this season and next on a contract making $3M per season. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of his contract.
“Evangelista, while not solving the 2C question, is a creator in the offensive zone. He’s a little bit like a modern day Joe Juneau. Plus, he’ll come in cheaper than the otehr forward alternatives we’ve seen linked to Detroit like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou.”
I cannot speak highly enough of The Swedish Winger. Lars is based out of Sweden and is the vanguard on all things Swedes. He’s the first one up-to-date on prospects like Eddie Genborg and the first to know about a skilled SHL prospect. His show is more than worth a listen!