If the Detroit Red Wings need to upgrade anywhere, it’s the defensive end. Apart from Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, the only player that showed he was capable on the blue line last season was young Albert Johansson. If the Red Wings want to snap their nine-season streak without the playoffs, they need to bolster the blue line.
Heavy.com proposed a trade pitch that would see the Red Wings trade for a defenseman on the New York Islanders in exchange for draft picks:
Red Wings receive:
- Alex Romanov
Islanders receive:
- 2026 conditional 1st round pick*
- 2026 2nd round pick
For those with sticker shock at the price, it’s important to note that the Islanders just signed Romanov to an eight year deal at $6.5M per season. It’s going to take a lot to pry away a freshly-signed player. Still, it’s not entirely impossible. After all, the Islanders just traded Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens.
The Islanders are on the cusp of a rebuild. They got a new general manager, won the draft lottery and are looking to build some long-term success. Trading Romanov, who is in the prime of his career, gives the Isles some solid draft picks for their future.
*The conditional 1st round pick is top-10 protected. If the Red Wings draft within the top-10 next season, this pick becomes a 2027 1st round pick.
What Alex Romanov Brings to the Red Wings
Romanov, 25, is a physical, imposing defenseman that fits general manager Steve Yzerman’s archetype. He’s known for big hits and bigger plays, helping the Islanders stay steady on the defensive end. He’s young, smart with the puck, and signed to a very affordable deal through 2033.
To top it all off, he’s the exact kind of player general manager Steve Yzerman likes out of his defenseman. Evolving Hockey’s advanced analytics model shows that Romanov has a bit of an offensive edge to his game and is more than capable of helping on the penalty kill.
Last season, the Red Wings ran the worst penalty kill in the NHL. Adding a player like Romanov, who is experienced with shorthanded play, gives players like Moritz Seider a breather on the back end.
Putting Romanov on the second pairing with a player like Johansson allows the second-year defenseman to better adjust to the NHL pace and gives Romanov a partner with an eye for the puck.
Red Wings Looking for Defensive Depth
Steve Yzerman takes a slow, deliberate approach to the rebuild. He mentioned that his goal with upgrading the roster is to find the perfect deal at the right time. “[We’re] trying to be diligent, maybe patient, just wait for the right player, the right opportunity, whether it is in a trade or in free agency, to add to our lineup and use our assets wisely if we can.”
“It’s just been my experience over the years that things kind of work themselves out,” Yzerman said. “Opportunities arise. You try to force it or chase it, there’s too many years, too many dollars or you give up too much in a trade…Trying to be diligent, maybe patient, just wait for the right player, the right opportunity, whether it is in a trade or in free agency, to add to our lineup and use our assets wisely if we can.”
The Red Wings open the season against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, October 9th.
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