The Detroit Red Wings are off to a hot start, and now could be buyers this season to bolster their roster.
Detroit was looking to snap its nine-year playoff drought this season. But the Red Wings were expected to miss the playoffs, according to oddsmakers.
Yet, the Red Wings are off to a 7-3 start and now could look to upgrade their roster. One area of need is defense. NHL analyst Michael DeRosa of NHLTradeRumors links the Red Wings to Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks.
“The Red Wings could be another team to keep an eye on when it comes to Ferraro. It is clear that their blueline could use a bit of a boost, and bringing in a player like Ferraro would undoubtedly make their roster stronger,” DeRosa wrote.
Ferraro is in the final year of his four-year, $13 million deal, and his name has come up in trade rumors. With the Sharks unlikely to make the playoffs, it would be wise for San Jose to move him, and Detroit has the assets to acquire him.
The Red Wings have plenty of young players and prospects to trade, as well as draft picks. Ferraro would add some offense to the back end. He’s recorded 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points in 10 games this season.
Sharks Willing to Trade Calls on Ferraro
With San Jose being a rebuilding team, the Sharks will be sellers this season.
One name to watch is Ferraro, as NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said that the Sharks are open to trading the defenseman this season.
The San Jose Sharks are believed to be willing to take trade calls on blueliners Mario Ferraro, 27, and Timothy Liljegren, 26, but both players are in the final year of their contracts and are currently eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer,” Pagnota wrote.
Ferraro’s name came up in trade talks last season, as San Jose fielded calls on him before the trade deadline last year.
“San Jose Sharks are listening on LHD Mario Ferraro, 26, who has one more year on his deal next season at $3.25M cap hit. It doesn’t mean they’ll move him. Happy to keep him. But given the small number of D on the trade market, Sharks are seeing what comes their way,” LeBrun wrote on X.
Ferraro has skated in 418 career NHL games.
Red Wings Happy With Hot Start
Detroit is off to a hot start, and a big reason why is head coach Todd McLellan.
McLellan is in his first full year as the Red Wings coach. Captain Dylan Larkin believes the team has bought into his system.
“We really put what we practiced into the game,” Larkin said. “It showed. We didn’t give up much, and I’m sure Todd would tell you there’s probably tons of good and positive clips. Over the last week or so, with our tracking especially, that wasn’t so positive. He gave us a little bit of a pat on the back today that we took what we practiced and taught to do into the game.”
McLellan, meanwhile, is proud of how the team has responded and played so far.
“They knew they needed to work and improve in certain areas, and it showed up in the game,” McLellan said. “Now, that’s one night. We’ve been saying this basically all year, ‘Can we bottle it? Can we travel with it? Can we maintain it?’ We’re still working hard on starts, trying to get out of the gate better than we have over the last few games.”
Detroit is on the road to play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
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