The Detroit Red Wings need to add more offense to their lineup and should look at the trade market to acquire an impact forward.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Red Wings acquiring Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche in an intriguing move.
Red Wings acquire:
- Valeri Nichushkin
- 2026 fifth-round pick
Avalanche acquire:
- Jonatan Berggren
- 2026 first-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as Detroit would acquire Nichushkin to bolster their offense for a good NHL forward and a first-round pick. Colorado also clears some much-needed cap space in the deal.
Detroit would acquire Nichushkin, who’s entering the fourth year of an eight-year, $49 million deal. He would add some much-needed offense to the Red Wings’ lineup and can play on the top line. Nichushkin recorded 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 43 games. He hasn’t played a full season in years due to some suspensions and legal issues, but Detroit would take a flier on him to bolster their offense.
The Red Wings would also get Colorado’s fifth-round pick to even up the deal, as the Avalanche has three fifth-round picks in next year’s draft.
The Avalanche, meanwhile, would get a first-round pick, which they can use as a trade asset, and Berggren. Berggren signed a one-year, $1.825 million extension with the Red Wings this offseason and will be an RFA at the end of the year.
Berggren can replace Nichushkin’s offense and could even play in Colorado’s top six. He recorded 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points in 75 games last season.
Nichushkin Would be Worth the Gamble for Red Wings
Nichushkin can be one of the top offensive players in the NHL, but he comes with plenty of baggage.
However, with the Red Wings in the midst of a nine-year playoff drought, it is worth the gamble for Detroit to acquire him. Nichushkin can play on the top line and give the Red Wings another pure goal scorer, which is needed.
The Russian also appears to have learned his lesson after entering Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. It came with a six-month suspension, and since then, he hasn’t had any issues.
At the time of the suspension, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar seemed to be concerned about his star player.
“Val obviously is struggling with something,” Bednar said back in May 2024 at the time of the suspension. “Yeah, it sucks. You’ve got to turn the page, we’ve got to play way better than we did today. There’s still 20-plus guys in that room that care and that want to win, that are here, and that’s what we have to focus on. It hurts our team, no question. Great player.”
Nichushkin helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2021.
Red Wings Have Cap Space to Add Nichushkin
Nichushkin does have five years left on his deal and is making over $6 million per season, but the Red Wings have plenty of cap space to work with.
The Red Wings have just under $12 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman isn’t ruling out the team using some of the space to make a big move.
“We have plenty of cap space to do a lot of different things,” Yzerman said. “The most important thing is to find players that fit.”
The Red Wings are looking to snap their nine-year playoff drought.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Red Wings Add $49M Star Forward to be Top-Line Forward in New Trade Pitch appeared first on Heavy Sports.