The Detroit Red Wings have a glaring hole in their top six. Specifically, the first-line left wing spot needs a massive upgrade. Free-agent signing James van Riemsdyk, while a serviceable goal-scorer even at 36, isn’t what a playoff contender needs in such a key role.
If the Wings deploy Alex DeBrincat in the top line, the club will still have an opening on the second line. As such, the Red Wings will need to find a permanent solution for their top six.
That solution could be Minnesota Wild free-agent-to-be Kirill Kaprizov.
Conflicting reports have sprung up across the media, suggesting that Kaprizov could be traded. Other reports suggest that the Wild will spare no expense to keep the 28-year-old on the team. But assuming the Wild get desperate enough to trade Kaprizov, the Red Wings could be the perfect fit for the impending UFA.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman could rock the NHL by pulling off the biggest trade in recent history. Here’s what this proposed trade could look like:
Red Wings get:
Kirill Kaprizov, F
Kyle Masters, D
Wild get:
Michael Rasmussen, F
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, F
2026 first-round pick
The proposed package for Kaprizov would be an expensive one. The Red Wings would send Michael Rasmussen, a forward with top-six potential. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was the Wings’ first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and can play both wings. He’s a big forward with plenty of physicality.
The 2026 first-rounder would be the cost of doing business, as the Red Wings would also land a decent defensive prospect in Kyle Masters. The Wings could use a right-shot blueliner with NHL potential.
Why Kaprizov Fits Perfectly into Red Wings’ Lineup
The Red Wings’ top line oozes talent with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Larkin is one of the league’s best, if highly underrated, two-way forwards. He’s a fixture on Team USA and should continue to be the main piece driving the Red Wings for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, it’s only a matter of time before Raymond becomes a 100-point player. He could reach that plateau as soon as this season.
So, imagine placing Kaprizov and Raymond on the same line with one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. If such a line materializes, opposing coaches would have nightmares trying to match up against it.
The Red Wings could have the makings of an explosive offense even at the expense of defensive accountability.
Detroit Would Still Need to Sign Kaprizov
The biggest obstacle could be re-signing Kaprizov. The prevailing rumor is that Kaprizov is looking for a deal at around $19 million AAV or 20% of the cap. The Red Wings currently have nearly $12 million in cap space, with another $9 million or so added to the cap next season.
So, affording Kaprizov wouldn’t be an issue for Detroit. It would just be a matter of the Russian sniper waiving his no-trade clause and working out an extension in the Motor City. Given how the Red Wings are a team on the rise, it’s certainly a plausible scenario.
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