The Detroit Red Wings should look to add more forward depth to their roster, and one trade idea has them acquiring a Stanley Cup champ to bolster their lineup.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Red Wings acquiring Ross Colton from the Colorado Avalanche.
Red Wings acquire:
- Ross Colton
- 2026 fourth-round pick (Carolina)
Avalanche acquire:
The proposed deal is an intriguing one as Detroit bolsters its middle-six by adding a Stanley Cup champ for a former first-round pick and an offensive defenseman who doesn’t have a clear-cut role in Detroit.
The Red Wings would acquire Colton, who’s entering the third year of his four-year, $16 million deal. He was drafted in the fourth round in 2016 by the Tampa Bay Lightning when Steve Yzerman was their GM, who is now the GM of the Red Wings.
Colton would be Detroit’s third-line center and be part of an energy line that can also score. He recorded 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 61 games. He won the Stanley Cup in 2021 with the Lightning.
In return, the Red Wings would give up Rasmussen, who’s entering the second year of his four-year, $12.8 million deal. Rasmussen would replace Colton in the lineup, as the former 9th overall pick could use a change of scenery. Rasmussen recorded 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 77 games.
The Avalanche would also acquire Gustafsson, who can be a third-pairing defenseman and add some offense to the backend. He’s in the final year of his two-year, $4 million deal. He recorded 2 goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 60 games last season. With the Red Wings having 8 NHL defenseman under contract, he is expendable.
Colton Named Trade Candidate
Colton’s name has come up in trade rumors this offseason after the Avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson.
Colorado could look to clear some cap space, and Colton’s name has come up in rumors, according to Ryan Womeldorf of TheHockeyWriters.
“With the re-signing of Nelson, big moves are out the window. Instead, the Avalanche will look to fill out their bottom six, possibly through a trade,” Womeldorf wrote. “Because of his injury issues the past season, Ross Colton and his $4 million average annual value (AAV) may be one of the prime candidates. The 28-year-old center has been a solid bottom-six piece – when he’s healthy enough to be in the lineup.
“Prior to the 2024-25 campaign, he had never missed more than a couple of games. But in a season in which the Avalanche faced a litany of injuries, Colton couldn’t help but find himself on the injured list,” Womeldorf added. “Colton had his lowest offensive output since his 2020-21 rookie season. He may be given the chance to bounce back since the Avalanche don’t desperately need to make a move, but they need help on defense, and his $4 million salary could be moved to provide that help.”
If Colton is indeed available for trade, he makes sense for the Red Wings, given that Yzerman drafted him and saw him be a key member of the Lightning roster.
Red Wings Could Use Another Forward
Detroit is in the midst of a nine-year playoff drought and is looking for that to end this season.
The Red Wings weren’t too active this offseason; instead added more depth players to help raise the floor. Yet, Yzerman isn’t ruling out the team bringing in another forward.
“I don’t want to rule out anybody coming in, having a really strong preseason and forcing us to take a longer look to see how they start at the regular season,” Yzerman said. “That’s a possibility for several players…We’ve got 12 players signed right now. Our debate is do we sign another one to have that 13th forward? Or do we leave that spot open and see if something comes up here over the summer? Or leave it open and let all those guys earn that spot?”
Colton would bring a winning pedigree to the Red Wings lineup and help Detroit get over the hump.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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