The Detroit Red Wings are looking to bolster their offense in the offseason, and one trade idea has them acquiring a star forward.
Heavy.com proposed a trade idea that sees the Red Wings acquiring Ivan Barbashev from the Vegas Golden Knights in an intriguing move.
Red Wings acquire:
Golden Knights acquire:
- 2026 first-round pick
- Shai Buium
The proposed deal would be an intriguing one as Detroit would acquire Barbashev, who would be a top-six forward, for a prospect and a first-round pick.
The Red Wings would acquire Barbashev, who has three years left on his five-year, $25 million deal with Vegas. His name has come up in trade talks as Vegas is looking to clear cap after acquiring Mitch Marner.
Barbashev would be Detroit’s first or second-line left winger, who can also play center if needed. He’d add some leadership to the roster as well as physicoality. The Russian recorded 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in 70 games last season.
In return, the Red Wings would trade their first-round pick and a defensive prospect. Buium was selected 36th overall in 2021 and spent last season in the AHL. He’d be some defensive depth for Vegas and could appear in NHL games next season.
Red Wings GM Likely to Explore Trade Market
Detroit has missed out on the playoffs in nine straight years, as the Red Wings are looking to add more talent to their roster.
With the free agency class not as good as years past, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said the team will likely explore the trade market.
“Anybody can go and look at the list of the potential free agents and see there aren’t that many guys you would think will have an impact,” Yzerman said. “There are very few this year, for whatever reason…
“It’s just there aren’t a lot of options right now,” Yzerman added. “Everybody wants, the teams I’m talking to, they want players. Just like we want players. What do we have to offer? I don’t want to trade our core players. You’re looking to add to your team, (using) future assets for that, and right now teams are all looking to add players to their teams. Kind of the same thing we’re trying to do.”
Yzerman says the focus for the Red Wings is on free agency as it opens up on July 1, but is looking at the trade market.
Detroit has just over $17 million in cap space.
Red Wings Make Some Key Moves
Detroit has already made some key moves ahead of the trade deadline.
The Red Wings traded for star goalie John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks to fill a major need.
“John has been, throughout the course of his career, a proven starter and a good starter in the NHL,” Yzerman said. “And you know, as Anaheim has gone through their rebuilding process, that probably affected his play a little bit. As their team gets better, they have a good young goaltender in Dostal. John is looking for more opportunity to play and we’re counting on him, obviously, to give us quality starts and upgrade our team net.”
Detroit also re-signed Patrick Kane and Jonatan Berggren. However, the Red Wings have yet to add any new players to the roster.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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