The Detroit Red Wings aren’t known to play a “heavy” game. They boast a wealth of talent, featuring the likes of Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Dylan Larkin. While Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom can play a hard game, they could use an actual “prototypical power forward.”
Heavy.com has proposed a trade that sees the Red Wings land a prototypical power forward with Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens.
Red Wings Acquire:
- Josh Anderson ($5.5 million)
Canadiens Acquire:
- J.T Compher ($5.1 million)
This big one-for-one swap helps out both teams. The Red Wings are acquiring a forward who can contribute in the top six and play a power forward game. The Canadiens acquire a player who can solve their second-line center conundrum until Michael Hage is ready to step into the role.
In this proposal, the Red Wings acquire the 31-year-old Anderson. The 95th overall selection in the 2012 Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets possesses a big frame (6-foot-3, 226 lbs). Last year, he had a 15-goal, 27-point season while averaging 14:19 across 81 games.
The Canadiens acquire J.T Compher, who is a 30-year-old center. The 6-foot, 190 lb forward was initially drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 35th overall in 2013. Compher recorded 32 points in 76 games. The centerman was 45.1 percent in the faceoff circle.
Josh Anderson Could Solve a Problem For the Red Wings
Unlike Larkin, Anderson actually plays a power forward game. Anderson has never been known as a player who excels offensively. However, he isn’t afraid to throw his weight around.
Last year, he recorded 175 hits, which was the second-highest hit total of his career. Despite being in his thirties, he still has some gas left in the tank.
Hits are an area that the Red Wings lacked during the regular season. As a team, they finished with 1570 hits. Eight teams finished with fewer hits than they did; six of them made the playoffs. But the Florida Panthers led the league in hits and just won their second consecutive Stanley Cup.
As a bonus, Anderson is one of the most likely Canadiens to be traded. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period has him 22nd on his summer trade board.
“The Habs are currently over the salary cap (yes, they have the Carey Price get out of cap jail free card in their pocket, if needed), and remain active in the trade market,” Pagnotta wrote about Anderson in July. “They want to add a No.2 centre, that’s no secret. Moving Anderson could be an option to help free up extra cap space. He owns a 5-team no-trade list.”
He’s no Evan Rodrigues or Mason McTavish, but Anderson could provide a jolt of life that this Red Wings team needs.
Red Wings Center Can Serve as a Stop Gap For Canadiens
It’s no secret that the Canadiens are on the hunt for a second-line center. An RG report states that the Canadiens are willing to wait for one of their young players to develop into the role. This suggests that they will take a “by committee” approach to their middle six centers.
“That’s why the Canadiens didn’t even consider including the names of (Michael) Hage or (David) Reinbacher in trade talks this summer,” Marco D’Amico wrote in his report. “The Canadiens strongly believe in these two.”
Adam Kimelman of NHL.com projects that Hage will be NHL-ready next season (in 2026-27).
Compher has three years left on his contract. This would give the Canadiens a temporary solution to their second-line center problem and buy the organization some time for a prospect to further develop.
The Red Wings might have lost out on a free agent or two that they had their hearts set on. On the bright side, they can make a push for the playoffs without sacrificing a blue-chip prospect with a proposal like this one.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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