Detroit Red Wings: 4 players packing their bags at the Trade Deadline
By Bob Heyrman
After suffering a season-ending upper-body injury that may require surgery, Detroit Red Wings forward Bobby Ryan is removed from the trade block.
It’s one of those unfortunate circumstances Detroit Red Wings fans know far too well. The organization found itself in a similar situation over a few years back with veteran defenseman Mike Green. Not once but twice Green was injured before general manager Ken Holland was able to pull the trigger on a deal.
Ryan started the season off with a bang scoring four goals in the first three games of the season. The 33-year old winger quickly cooled off and went 14 straight games without a goal before ending his season, scoring three in his last 16 contests. Ryan ended his first season with the Detroit Red Wings totaling 14 points in 33 games.
General manager Steve Yzerman surely hoped to move Ryan before Monday’s deadline, expecting to add some more draft capital at the backend of the draft. Ryan wouldn’t fetch a massive return, but one could assume Yzerman could have had an opportunity to add a fourth or fifth-round pick for his services.
Ryan joins fellow forward Tyler Bertuzzi, who has been on the shelf since the end of January. While the organization remains optimistic he will return before the season expires, I have my doubts.
Four more potential Detroit Red Wings trade deadline opportunities.
Yzerman hopes to sell everything, not nailed down, and turn current players into future draft picks. There are only two players in the organization I wouldn’t consider trading; Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider.
Friday night Yzerman made his first deadline deal sending defenseman Patrik Nemeth to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2022.
It takes two to make a trade, and I don’t expect Detroit to find a trade partner for everyone we hope to move, but I will center out four specific players that should be packing their bags.
Honorable mention; Sam Gagner, Adam Erne, Troy Stecher, Valterri Filppula, Jon Merrill, Christain Djoos.