The Detroit Red Wings need to make some changes, particularly to their defensive core. They could try to achieve that by getting in touch with the Calgary Flames and hoping to make an offer. The Flames, for their part, want to make changes with their team, and Detroit ought to as well.
Steve Yzerman needs to take action, even though the Detroit Red Wings have a long road ahead of them and a trade would probably result in matching moves. Regardless of his previous advice to be patient, he needs to view this year as an opportunity to compete.
This will likely mean making some changes for the Red Wings, and the Flames may provide them with an opportunity to do so. The Flames are being labeled as “open for business,” and one of the players on the block is Nikita Zadorov.
Zadorov is a 28-year-old defenseman with a big-bodied frame. He’s 6 feet 6 inches tall and 248 pounds, and he has a left-handed shot. Indeed, it will take a sacrifice on the Red Wings’ part to bring in someone like Zadorov, but it might be worth considering a move to breathe some fresh air into the defense core.
Detroit Red Wings should consider trading for Nikita Zadorov.
In 2023-24, Zadorov has played 14 games for the Flames. He has a goal and five assists for six points on the season. He’s averaging just above 18 minutes for the Flames this season, and there’s hope that he can find a new home to play a bigger role.
Zadorov is reportedly unhappy and looking to make a “business move” to find a new team. Other teams are rumored to be interested in him, but there’s reason to believe that Yzerman could get a deal done if he is indeed looking for a change.
The trade would likely involve changing hands or flipping some low- to mid-tier prospects to get a deal done. Zadorov is a pending unrestricted free agent who the Red Wings could bring in to help for this year and let walk if things do not work out.
We know that Yzerman enjoys adding big-bodied defenders to the defense core, so Zadorov could offer a chance to shake things up. There’s more to the Flames than just Zadorov, though. ProHockeyRumors reported that while Zadorov is looking to be traded by Calgary, there are a plethora of other players available beyond the big-bodied defenseman.
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So, while Zadorov is the big-bodied pending UFA, the Red Wings could team up with the Flames to add someone like Noah Hanifin or Christian Tanev if the team really wants to make a splash.
Though it’s too soon to start taking such actions, who can tell that Yzerman doesn’t have any more plans? The Red Wings might be trying to shake up things in the defense core, albeit nothing concrete has happened yet.
