DETROIT — Steve Yzerman had the impression that he and the Detroit Red Wings may have a quiet trade deadline as he prepared for Friday’s NHL trading deadline.
His head coach, Derek Lalonde, might have telegraphed that last week when he opined: “Maybe the most aggressive move of all would be no move at all. I think that would speak volumes on where our group’s at. … Because (it would mean he’s) confident in the group.”
And that is basically what transpired when the deadline approached and passed. The Red Wings made no other transactions, indicating that they will instead rely on their organizational depth (especially from AHL Grand Rapids) as they attempt to snap a seven-year playoff drought. They moved away forward Klim Kostin, removing his $2 million price cost from their ledger for the upcoming season.
GO DEEPER
NHL trade deadline: Grading every deal completed this trade season
That’s not to say Yzerman didn’t consider adding. He said Detroit “certainly did a lot of talking” about adding another forward after dealing Kostin — a move the general manager had mixed emotions about but ultimately rationalized by saying, “In the role that he was being used in, it doesn’t make sense to have a $2 million player.”
But when it came down to it, Yzerman was not fond of the costs associated with adding a second forward, particularly in light of what the Red Wings believe they had in reserve.
“I like to think part of why we weren’t very active this year at the deadline is we like the depth we have within the organization,” Yzerman said. “We have some good players in Grand Rapids, players that we signed last summer, some of our young prospects that are playing there — they provide us good depth. So here, sitting at the deadline, looking at some of the things that we felt maybe (were) areas that could help us, ultimately giving up this year a first- or a second- or a third-round pick for depth, we were better off bringing up our guys from Grand Rapids for that.”
Thus, it was not surprising that the Red Wings did nothing, but it was still a little disappointing as Detroit looks to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“We’ve got a real good race, which is going to be good for our team down the stretch,” Yzerman said. “And hopefully it works out that we finish the regular season in a playoff spot.”
Now that the deadline has past, the only question left is: Can they, as designed?
With Dylan Larkin sidelined until at least next week due to an unidentified lower-body injury, it will not be simple. The one game Detroit has played without Larkin so far saw them lose handily to the Colorado Avalanche 7-2. Though they are among the best teams in the NHL, playing the Avalanche at home without the ability to control matchups is not a fair comparison.
What comes next, though, will be. If you’re going to buy in to Lalonde’s comment from last week — the inaction from Yzerman would be the most aggressive move of all because of the confidence it signals — then finding a way to survive without Larkin, who is their captain, leading scorer and on-ice engine, is a non-negotiable.
In Arizona, that begins on Friday. After dealing off Kostin, the Red Wings will face the Coyotes with 11 forwards and 7 defenseman, but the wager on Grand Rapids will not be out of the question for long. Yzerman stated that a call-up will be made during the trip, but he would not reveal who. On Friday night, winger Jonatan Berggren was noticeably missing from the Griffins’ starting lineup.
Berggren, of course, is the Griffins’ leading scorer and one of the players Yzerman mentioned Friday afternoon, saying, “If we need a winger to step in, an offensive guy, we think Jonatan is ready to do that.”
He’s probably been ready to do it all year. Berggren played 67 games for Detroit last season, potting 15 goals and 28 points. But the Red Wings made a conscious decision to leave him in Grand Rapids to start the season, wanting him to continue to improve and play a bigger role with the Griffins than they would in Detroit. He’s gotten nine more NHL games this season, too, with two goals and five points, but mostly he’s been in Grand Rapids, where he’s posted 46 points in 43 games.
Because of all those factors, Berggren ought to be able to score goals for the Red Wings should he be called upon.
Detroit will need to find a way to replace Larkin’s offensive output, which leads the team, while he is out for the near future. However, that has been the team’s main strength the entire season. The Red Wings have consistently played with depth, ranking sixth in the NHL in terms of scoring.
What Yzerman thinks will make or break the Red Wings’ playoff push, though, has more to do with the other end of the ice.
“We’ve got to be a strong defensive team, and we’ve got to continue to work at that,” he said. “And in my opinion, that’ll be the key for us going down the stretch here.”
And that is possibly the most intriguing thing about the silent deadline. With their logjammed blue line, the Detroit Lions might have benefited by moving out a contract on Friday, just as they did with Kostin up front. The best prospect in the franchise, Simon Edvinsson, is waiting for the Red Wings in Grand Rapids. Yzerman was raving about Edvinsson’s development as a defense this year, despite the fact that his AHL status was primarily due to his desire to maximize his puck touches and power play opportunities.
“He’s gotten more confidence, his closing plays, his play in front of his own net, reading the play and when to box out and when to front, and reading the play in front of him but knowing where everybody is behind him — just his overall defensive play has gotten better,” Yzerman said. “He really is becoming an excellent, excellent defender.”
It remains to be seen if it will transfer to time in Detroit. He is the seventh veteran in the lineup for the Red Wings, and none of them were traded by the deadline. Although the Red Wings have avoided calling up players for almost the whole season, it is still feasible at some point, particularly in the event of an injury (Edvinsson was called up for two games in December).
So, with Detroit’s lead in the wild-card race down to just two points over the New York Islanders, the bet is clear. Yzerman still is not ready to aggressively buy at this time of year, like the league’s true Stanley Cup contenders did this week. He also didn’t sell off, as he did in a not-so-different situation last season.
Yzerman thought there would be enough benefit this time to attempt to end the second-longest postseason absence in league history. However, the Red Wings will mainly need to rely on the guys who brought them here.
(Photo of Steve Yzerman: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Leave a Reply