The Detroit Red Wings are hoping to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. They have missed the postseason in each of the last nine seasons. And they are facing heightened pressure to avoid making it an even decade without playoff hockey.
There are a number of moves the team can make this summer. Detroit has the ability to add an impact player to the lineup before the end of the offseason. And there is one intriguing name the Red Wings could pursue on the trade market.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to trade defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer. Karlsson has spent two seasons in Pittsburgh, but he does not appear to be long for the Penguins. According to The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman, the Red Wings are a team that make sense as a landing spot.
“Speaking of teams with weaknesses on the right, there’s the Red Wings. Behind Moritz Seider, their current depth includes Justin Holl and Jeff Petry. Like Ottawa and even Vancouver, Detroit’s not a true contender yet. But with an aggressive offseason, there’s a path back to the postseason. One of the keys is bolstering the offense,” Goldman wrote on Thursday morning.
How Erik Karlsson Improves Red Wings
Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesPittsburgh Penguins star Erik Karlsson could be a fit with the Detroit Red Wings.
Karlsson is one of the best offensive defensemen of his generation. Adding him to the power play could make Detroit’s unit one of the most dominant in the league. Especially given the results we saw from them a year ago.
However, the Red Wings struggled as an offensive unit at even strength. For whatever reason, they were unable to generate offense at five-on-five. Goldman cites this as a main factor in urging the Red Wings to swing a trade for the Penguins defender.
“Detroit’s expected goal generation ranked 25th in the league, and its scoring sunk to 30th. Adding a puck-mover of Karlsson’s caliber could help the Red Wings regain control and push back up ice, where their forwards can get to work,” Goldman wrote on Thursday morning.
Karlsson Trade is Rather Complicated
The fit for Karlsson in Detroit is definitely sound. However, this is situation that is rather complex. As with any deal, this is going to be easier said than done for the Winged Wheel.
The Red Wings have the financial means to make this work. They have $21.3 million in available cap space, according to PuckPedia. And they could create more with a buyout of either Justin Holl or Vladimir Tarasenko.
Pittsburgh is likely going to retain salary on any potential trade, though. They are on the hook for $10 million of his salary. The San Jose Sharks retained 13% in the 2023 trade that sent the 35-year-old to Pittsburgh.
The main obstacle is Karlsson himself. He has a full no-movement clause in his contract. If he wants to leave this summer, he has the power to dictate where he goes.
The Red Wings could be a landing spot for Karlsson. He could help return Detroit to its former glory while mentoring its two young stars on the blueline — Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider. It will be interesting to see if Detroit swings a deal like this over the course of the long offseason.
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