Detroit Red Wings: Yzerman needs to take advantage of hot trade market

General manager (GM) Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings need to take advantage of the hot trade market.

The Red Wings have been active on the trade front over the past few days, recently acquiring a fourth-round draft pick serving as the ‘middle-man’ in a deal that sent defenseman David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a three-team deal.

Detroit absorbed 25% of Savard’s salary for the remainder of 2021, which works out to just a touch over $1 million.  Detroit sent veteran AHL defender Brian Lashoff to Columbus in the deal, but the Jackets quickly sent Lashoff to Tampa Bay.

The Blue Jackets conclude the complicated deal with Tampa’s first-round pick in 2021, plus a third-round choice in 2022, and retain 50% of Savard’s deal.

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The Detroit Red Wings essentially move Lashoff for a fourth-round pick in 2021, while Tampa ends up with Savard and Lashoff.

Before that complex deal, Yzerman moved defenseman Patrik Nemeth to the Colorado Avalanche for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Level Draft.  Nemeth signed with the Detroit Red Wings two summers ago as an unrestricted free agent after not being extended by the Avalanche.

Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings continued the trend by trading Jon Merrill to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick plus Hayden Verbeek, a low-end forward prospect who was promptly assigned to the organization’s AHL club, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Detroit Red Wings need to take advantage of a scorching hot trade market.

It’s an organization that is statistically down in the dumps but already stockpiling 11 draft picks for the 2021 draft, plus nine in 2022; Yzerman will have plenty of opportunities to add to the surplus of draft capital.

If David Savard can garner a first-round pick in return, what could the Detroit Red Wings receive in exchange for Marc Staal, Jonathan Bernier, Adam Erne, Luke Glendening, or a player like Anthony Mantha?

In recent days the New York Islanders added forward Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac from the Devils for a first-round pick in 2021 plus a fourth-round pick in ’22, along with forwards A.J. Greer and Mason Jobst.

The Toronto Maple Leafs added Nick Foligno for a first-round pick in 2021 and a fourth-rounder choice in 2022.  Similar to the deal Columbus made that included the Red Wings, the deal included a third team.  San Jose landed a fourth-round pick in 2021 but sending forward Stefan Noesen to the Leafs.

Foligno isn’t having a great season; he’s scored just seven goals totaling 16 points in 42 games this season, yet fetched a first & fourth-round pick.

Yzerman needs to be shopping 25-year old Adam Erne, who is having himself a career year with the Detroit Red Wings.  He’s recorded a career-high 10 goals in just 35 games this season.  Erne is a pending restricted free agent, so unlike Foligno won’t be just a rental for a team looking to add a depth forward with scoring ability.

I can’t fathom receiving a first-round pick for Erne, but if this is the market, why not?  Yzerman should settle for a second-round pick and call it a day.

When it comes to Staal, Bernier, and Glendening, the Detroit Red Wings should be asking for at least a third-round pick for each.  The market is hot; let’s take advantage of it and continue to stock the cupboard in hopes of a bright future.