Detroit Red Wings: Making Sense Of Adam Erne’s Acquisition

Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has been trying to bring in pieces that he would prefer to the organization, today was another move to do so. The Red Wings traded for a former Tampa Bay Lightning forward, Adam Erne, that Yzerman selected in the draft in past years.

The Detroit Red Wings are pushing to bolster down a team for this year, they have plenty of young forwards who are looking to get their chance at proving themselves at the NHL-level, but GM Steve Yzerman opted to go a different route. Yzerman completed a trade with (his former team) the Tampa Bay Lightning to receive forward Adam Erne in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick.

The fact is, Yzerman is bringing in the guys he prefers to be on the roster, immediately after trading for Erne, he was signed. Erne agreed to terms of a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the Red Wings after Yzerman acquired him from the Lightning. Yzerman selected Erne back in 2013 in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Erne is not an impact prospect, or really even a prospect at all, he will be a bottom-six forward for the Red Wings but is better than guys like Justin Abdelkader.

Erne, a third or fourth liner will get the chance to prove himself here with the Red Wings and possibly even be moved up to a higher line if he does well for this developing team. In the 2018-19 season, Erne only had seven goals and thirteen assists for twenty points for the Lightning over the course of sixty-five games played.

Yzerman is bringing Erne to this franchise in hopes that his development will be boosted and he could become someone of impact for this team, but as he is, Erne is nothing but a bottom-six forward for this Red Wings team. It is a great trade if it works out, getting another forward to add into the already potent mix of talent the Detroit Red Wings have between the NHL and AHL rosters. If it doesn’t work out, it would be like swapping a fourth-round pick for a player who didn’t pan out, so it should be looked at as a “no harm no foul” type of trade.

After signing Calvin Pickard, Patrik Nemeth, and Valtteri Filppula the Red Wings GM noted that they were not done and were considering picking up another forward, winger to be exact, and then they traded for Erne today. After trading for his rights, they resigned him and decided he will be a part of this Red Wings team that is looking to break back into a spot of contention sooner rather than later.