Red Wings Trade Deadline Blueprint: Top-six help, defensive upgrades and players on target – The Hockey Writers Detroit Red Wings Latest news, analysis and more

Now that the 2026 Winter Olympics are over, the focus turns to the Detroit Red Wings’ playoff chase. That, and the knowledge that only four games separate the team from this year’s trade deadline.

March 6 will be a pivotal day for the Red Wings – they will be buyers for the first time under Steve Yzerman. With that in mind, here’s what I’m hearing about how the Red Wings plan to approach this year’s trade deadline:

• They are aggressively pursuing meaningful acquisitions – pursuing Quinn Hughes was proof of this
• Players with term are preferred
• They won’t pay too much to get something done

The approach is sound in theory, but strategy and execution are different things. That said, if the Red Wings make some moves (and improve internally), they will be well-positioned to achieve these four crucial objectives and end their playoff drought:

1. Improve their goal scoring, both in five-a-side and on the power play, through internal and external sources
2. Add defensive depth to better utilize their blueliners
3. Get bigger contributions from the bottom six
4. Manage Gibson and Talbot workloads to keep both up to date

Given Detroit’s strategy and what they need to accomplish, we can identify their needs in terms of trade deadlines and objectives that meet the criteria. Let’s dive in.

Red Wings need No. 1 pick: top-six forward

It should come as no surprise that scoring is Detroit’s top priority. As I’ve said before, they’ve struggled to generate high-risk opportunities. And as a result, their scoring has suffered: Detroit’s 2.11 goals per 60 at five positions ranks 27th in the NHL.

Adding a top-six forward is an obvious way to address this problem. Both center and wing options should be considered – there is enough setup flexibility to integrate both effectively.

If the Red Wings acquire a winger, they can then trot that player onto Dylan Larkin’s wing opposite Lucas Raymond. Downstream, a revived Marco Kasper could center Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, or add more offense to the bottom six. The same goes for Andrew Copp if he gets pushed down the lineup. He could also center a shutdown line if the Red Wings want to go that route.

Adding a center would have similar consequences. The new player would slot in between Kane and DeBrincat, and Copp could either spend time on Larkin’s wing or drop to the bottom six.

Either way, the Red Wings improve 1) their scoring touch, 2) the overall talent of the top six, and 3) the depth of the bottom six.

Possible targets include: Robert Thomas, Elias Pettersson, Ryan O’Reilly, Jordan Kyrou, Steven Stamkos, Mika Zibanejad and Yegor Sharangovich. Detroit could also consider more cost-effective options like Michael Bunting and Evander Kane for top-nine roles if they can’t get a deal done for one of their top targets.

Red Wings need No. 2: top-four defenseman

Detroit’s team defense was excellent this year. Not great. Not terrible. Just good.

However, Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson have been excellent and plan to handle most of the tough matches in the long run. But beyond that there is room for improvement.

Don’t get me wrong: Albert Johansson and Jacob Bernard-Docker have taken a step further in the new year. But are they bona fide second-pair blueliners? Or is Axel Sandin-Pellikka? The answer to those questions is a resounding answer No.

The Red Wings need someone to work with (and possibly wearing) Ben Chiarot on the second pair. Chiarot can play on both sides, so the signing doesn’t have to be on the right side, although it would probably be best to keep the veteran on his strong side.

Acquiring a quality No. 3 defenseman would allow the Red Wings to better utilize their blueliners. Chiarot should not have to be “the man” of the second pair. Sandin-Pellikka could play a more sheltered role on the bottom pair as he continues to adapt to the NHL. And Bernard-Docker would be the next man up, instead of Travis Hamonic.

Potential targets include: Brandon Carlo, Nick Perbix, Dougie Hamilton, Tyler Myers, Rasmus Ristolainen, Justin Faulk, MacKenzie Weegar and Braden Schneider. Bargain options like Luke Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak would upgrade the third pair and could play second pair minutes later in games if called upon.

Last word

Detroit has previously expressed interest in Pettersson, Stamkos, Kane, Carlo, Perbix and Hamilton, so it’s possible they’ll revisit those options. A dream scenario would be for the Red Wings to acquire Thomas and Carlo, which would obviously come at a high price. That said, a trade with the Nashville Predators to land O’Reilly and Perbix would also provide the organization with a lot of value.

Related: Red Wings Olympic Break Audit: Evaluating what it will take to make the playoffs

Regardless, the trade deadline represents the Red Wings’ last chance to strengthen their roster before the stretch run and the playoffs. They deserve the reinforcements. And from what I hear, Yzerman wants to reward his team.

Data courtesy of Natural statistical trick.