It’s that week of the year again, where it’s so much more fun than leading up to July 1st, because we already know a lot of what’s going to happen in free agency. Deadline Week is just different.
Will the Wings do something? I’d just say this. Other than last year, is there a deadline Yzerman hasn’t done something? I’m including Tampa days. I’m not sure there has been. He’s always usually good for something, and most of the time it’s something nobody seen coming. So I’m going to guess they will. There’s been a lot of Detroit people all over the place over the last month. That’s for sure. Watching Seattle, SJ and Philly most I’d say.
Being back in rinks full-time this year has been a fun year for me. When I agreed to do some part time stuff last year, I never thought I’d still be out here a year later doing 2025 and 2026 draft data 2-3 weeks a month.. I wanted to make sure I visited every rink if I did work this year and finally hit Prince Albert recently. So it’s been a fun year. Western Canadian hockey is just a different beast. From the AAA tournaments to the WHL itself to minor hockey. I never played out here except a tournament in Saskatoon when I was 14 I think, but my kid played out here 4-5 times in his AAA days. There’s still that old time Canadian thing out here I think the OHL has lost some of. I get that from some scouts and independent evaluators too. An actual Detroit scout told me recently that they look at WHL kids differently, and expect different attributes from them, compared to OHL and Non-WHL American kids. Mostly centered around effort on a per game scale, ability to separate opposing players from the puck in traffic, to how prepared the Cs are for pro hockey, etc. That scout told me it’s what really put Becher over the top for them last year. How he came to the WHL and completely changed his game from Europe. Took him a year to come around but as we see in GR right now, they have themselves a legit prospect from the 3rd Round with lots of offensive ability. NHL ability.
Anyway, there’s been so much speculation going around, who knows what to believe. I’ve heard Detroit is after a true #3 Dman since they were in on Hanifin prior to last season. One day they’ll actually get one. Pretty sure and I’ll die on this hill, the whole DET/BUF thing was more about Byrum than it was ever about Cozens. At least originally. Still think Detroit would love to get Byrum but a name I’ve heard a lot in the last week? Henri Jokiharju with Detroit and Colorado mostly. He’s a pending UFA at only 25 for Buffalo. A RHD who’d be an upgrade to possibly play with Edvinsson down the stretch, or just to replace Holl.
I think they have others ahead of him from what I’ve gathered, but he’s someone to keep an eye on with the Wings. If they got him today or tomorrow, that would probably mean that’s all they’re doing on the backend.
K’Andre Miller, Byrum, Cam York or Ristolainen probably are the 4 names I’ve heard the most about since December. Before that, Drysdale earlier in the season. Oleksiak too, but that’s more speculation from people, as he fits Yzerman’s past acquisitions on the blue line during his Tampa days. Big, very long Dmen who take up space, and can play a role. He traded for 4-5 big D in Tampa. Think he’s more of a secondary target though. More like Jokiharju. If they end up with Soucy or Martinez, they’re not going to fill that #3 dman spot.
Heard some stuff about Schenn too, but honestly think that’s more media type stuff. Not sure Detroit is really in on him unless Ryan O’Reilly became available to the Wings in a package.
One thing to keep in mind about scouts. Teams have a pile of evaluations on every NHL player and it doesn’t take much scouting on certain players. For example, every NHL team has a detailed file on Sandin Pellikka, Danielson, etc. If they’re in a building scouting a junior or AHL game, they’re looking more at players like Buium, Lombardi, Hanas, Tuomisto, Finnie, etc.
So deals can be made without any scouting done. 3rd party evaluations, the business I’ve been in mostly since I left agent scouting in 2002, provides this for NHL teams. So if Detroit wants 4-5 different opinions on McCann let’s say, they’ll have their in-house stuff, and they’ll call up 3rd parties and obtain data, if they don’t have enough. In Detroit’s case, they have complete data on every NHL, AHL, USHL, NCAA, BCHL and CHL player in North America. From their draft year, to current year. Detroit is one of 7-8 teams now, who have data from multiple outside sources on every player. If they’re ordering an updated report on a single player, good bet they’re looking at him via trade.
So teams can make a deal on any player at any time, and know how he should fit their system, etc.
That’s also how info gets spread on players, etc. People know if a team like Philadelphia for example, is talking to Detroit about something because they’re sending pro scouts to Kamloops, and they order data on Emmitt Finnie. That’s how most teams do it. If they’re interested in a player, they may obtain outside evaluations/data on that player before trading for him. The old 2nd and 3rd opinion type thing. Then there’s the Islanders, where everything’s in Lou’s head. Nobody knows anything.
It’s not always how things go down but there’s usually a lot of data studied before a trade is made.
Speaking of Philly, haven’t heard anything over the last week about Detroit watching Philly, but over the last couple of months DET scouts have watched Philly a lot.. Those same scouts have watched the Isles and Rangers a lot too. They’re also scouts who concentrate on Dmen. Originally I was told it was Drysdale and York they were scouting quite a bit, but sure does sound like that may have turned to Ristolainen. York btw, is like Byrum and Miller. He can file for arbitration in June, and is yet to have a long term deal with the Flyers. He’d be an unexpected, sneaky add.
Heard a little about Ferraro too. I just don’t know he fits.
That’s what I’ve heard for Dmen. I do think Detroit might be after one of those 3 arbitration eligible players first, because the Rangers, Flyers and Sabres know they have to either pay York, Miller and Byrum by Friday, or they’re taking a big chance those three file for arbitration.
Teams do NOT want to go to arbitration with a good younger dman. They know they’ll lose and the player will then basically walk himself to UFA, controlling where he goes, while making bank. So they have to make decisions on these players. Pay them long term or trade them. It’s the system they created by giving out so many 8 year deals to unproven Dmen.
Miller and Byrum specifically will make a killing for 1-2 years and then leave. The day they file, the team loses so much value trade wise, like Ottawa did w Debrincat, They’ll then pick where they’ll be traded to if they want to.
If I had to guess, I think they might be targeting Ristolainen though. He’s become a really solid, big dman.
At forward, really haven’t heard a lot about anyone but McCann and Mittlestadt recently, and that’s cooled. Don’t underestimate a team that’s always liked a player getting him at a discount though. Since his draft the Wings really liked Mittlestadt. They were supposedly in on him last year before Colorado got him too. As of last night, I’m still told they still like him. As bad as he’s been for Colorado after his fast start there, don’t be surprised if the Wings trade for him, with the intention it’s more for next season. Likely playing him on the wing and 2nd PP for the rest of the year, and maybe from now on. What I got last night was, and I’ve heard this before… Don’t be surprised if they make that deal, JT Compher ends up back in Colorado. They’d then just go with Kasper at 2C, Rasmussen at 3C and Mittlestadt on a wing for now.
Take that for what it is. Colorado is a better hockey team if they swap Mittlestadt for Compher, right now. Mittlestadt does nothing for them. They can’t trust him playing 2C. For every point he gets, they’re giving up more from his lazy C mistakes. If Detroit adds something? I can’t tell you. Colorado is trying to get rid of Mittlestadt because of his AAV. So they’re not getting top value for him. Not at over $5 million AAV. Like I said, it’s not the first time I’ve heard about Compher going back to Colorado. They trust him in their system.
I did hear Wennberg’s name connected to Detroit yesterday from a valid person, and I’ve actually heard Brock Nelson’s name more than once in the last week, but that’s speculation coming from agent scouts. Not his agent.
That’s all I can think of. It’s wild how much is out there though. Border is a big one right now. People in this business are fans too btw. Speculating as much as anyone with a little information behind speculation. The Mittlestadt thing is something I’ve heard a lot of. I think Colorado is trying to find a sucker though. Someone who trades then a great asset like Boeser, and will take Mittlestadt back in that deal. That’s all Vancouver needs. Another American the media can pick on.
As for current players. If Tarasenko doesn’t end up on waivers tomorrow, I’m guessing he stays. It’s also still worth mentioning to keep an eye on Ben Chiarot. That all may have cooled down too, but I’m pretty sure he was almost traded to Edmonton earlier in the season. The front office lost patience for him not wanting to accept the role he’s now been playing. It was part of why Lalonde was fired. He liked Chiarot and let Chiarot almost make decisions on pairings, where the front office wanted Edvinsson in the role he’s playing now, and Chiarot in the more supporting role he’s now in.
Everything says Chiarot seems to have accepted his new role though. He’s still playing the minutes, he’s just not driving play anymore and that’s what they don’t want him doing. They want Edvinsson and Seider driving the two top pairings. Now they just have to find their long term partners. If they end up playing some together, that’s just because one of them is going through some young player issues or late in games.
Anyway. That’s what I’ve got. If they end up with Alec Martinez and Gourde types, it’ll mean they struck out trying to do something bigger. I can see them get Martinez if they move Chiarot and add that #3 Dman too though. If it’s just him, or someone more like him? They struck out. Chiarot would likely go to EDM, Dallas, LA or Vegas if he’s moved. Those were the teams in early December.
Also don’t be surprised if Justin Holl or Gustavsson ends up in San Jose for future considerations. If of course they are active on the blue line.
Oh, one name I’ve heard thrown around in the last day that was intriguing was Sharangovich from Calgary. He’s struggling right now, and he’s been connected to the Wings before as well. He’s better at wing, but can play 2C. He’s been terrible for the Flames lately but when he’s good, he’s really good. Think he’s a much better winger though and that might be half the problem in Calgary right now.
We’ll see what happens. I do think they’re trying though. Problem is, there’s not a lot of pure sellers and lots of buyers.
