The Detroit Red Wings are looking to end their nine-year playoff drought and could look to acquire a superstar to add some more talent.
Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Red Wings acquire Kyle Connor from the Winnipeg Jets in a blockbuster deal.
Red Wings acquire:
Jets acquire:
- Michael Rasmussen
- Nate Danielson
- Marco Kasper
- William Wallinder
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2028 second-round pick
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as Detroit would go all-in by acquiring one of the NHL’s best goal scorers for an NHL player, three prospects, and two draft picks.
The Red Wings would acquire Connor, who’s in the final year of his seven-year, $50 million deal. If he isn’t going to re-sign, Winnipeg could look to trade him, and Connor is from Detroit, so the Red Wings acquiring him makes sense. Connor recorded 41 goals and 56 assists for 97 points in 82 games.
In return, the Red Wings would give up a haul, including two draft picks and Rasmussen. Rasmussen can be a third-line center for the Jets as he’s entering the second year of a four-year, $12.8 million deal. Rasmussen recorded 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 77 games.
The Jets would also acquire Danielson, who was selected ninth overall in 2023. He’s yet to make his NHL debut, but could this season.
The Red Wings would also trade Kasper and Wallinder. Kasper is a center prospect who was selected 8th overall in 2022 and recorded 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 77 games. Wallinder, meanwhile, is a defensive prospect who was selected 32nd overall in 2020 and could make his NHL debut this season.
Jets Hopeful to Re-Sign Connor
Connor is one of the best players in the NHL, but if he isn’t going to re-sign, Winnipeg will likely move him.
The Red Wings have been linked to him in the past. But, the Jets are confident they’ll be able to re-sign him, according to NHL insider David Pagnotta.
“Obviously, Kyle Connor is a huge part of it. I think Winnipeg understands they’ve got to spend that money,” Pagnotta said. “And B, I think the player understands that’s the neighborhood he’s going to be in. It’s just a matter of finding the final figures, structure out that contract and go from there. But I haven’t heard anything in terms of it being a problem or an issue right now.
“Like Nik Ehlers for example, people knew about a year out that he was pretty much going to test the market once he headed to free agency and see what other options were going to be available to him. Haven’t gotten that sense at all right now, with respect to Kyle Connor,” Pagnotta added.
Connor has spent his entire career with Winnipeg after being drafted 17th overall in 2015.
Red Wings GM Has Assets to Acquire Connor
Detroit has the salary cap space and assets to make a trade for Connor work.
The star winger would have to sign an extension as part of a trade, which the Red Wings could give him. Detroit’s general manager Steve Yzerman, meanwhile, says the team could still make a big move.
“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.”
Detroit has just over $12 million in cap space.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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