The Detroit Red Wings have struggled to no one's surprise. They were on a different level of bad and it was not close. Stars are not performing, the defense is a one-pairing defense of Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson, and the goaltending has been above average. The team is still near the bottom of the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres, a team they have been rumored in trade talks with. Who would be involved in a big trade and will there be more than one move?
Red Wings, Sabres swapping players?
Both teams are at the point where changes need to be made or the season is a loss at the holiday break. General Manager Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings and Keyvn Adams of the Sabres are no strangers to making moves and may be in talks to make something big happen. The NHL is in the middle of a roster freeze and that will not be lifted until December 28, 2024. However, that may not prevent something being done after it has been lifted. Sabres assistant general manager Jason Karmanos was spotted at the Red Wings game last week against the Philadelphia Flyers. Could be nothing but, interestingly, someone of his status at a game where another team wants to move in a different direction is significant.
Buffalo has a young team full of potential and energy but has struggled to get into the playoffs. Detroit has a team full of veterans but have also struggled to get into the postseason. Maybe a trade between the two shakes things up and the Red Wings get younger while the Sabres add experience.
While Dylan Cozens, J.J. Paterka, and Bowen Byram have been rumored to be on the move, Red Wings' Patrick Kane, J.T. Compher, Ville Husso, Erik Gustafsson, and Vladimir Tarasenko could be targets based on their poor production this season. Kane (14 points in 28 games), is an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) in 2025-26. Compher (16 points in 32 games) has an annual average value (AAV) of $5.1 million. Husso (1-4-2 with a 3.47 goals-against-average and a .877 save percentage) is a UFA next season. Gustafsson (five assists in 25 games) is a UFA in 2026-27, and Tarasenko (12 points in 32 games) is also a 26-27 UFA.
The pieces are there for a big trade if Karmanos and Yzerman want to make a move. Both teams have assets and prospects to move, along with some stable goaltenders. The thing that may hold up a massive deal could be the fact they are in the same spot in the division.
The players mentioned above bring a different element and could change the way Buffalo and Detroit play the game if they acquire some talent. Neither the Red Wings or Sabres play the day the roster freeze is over and that could be the day to make a move. It could be beneficial for both teams to make a trade as both teams seem to be looking for answers.
Yzerman may be the most desperate of the two as he may be in the hot seat for how the team has performed this season. Since his arrival back in Detroit, the team has not made the playoffs nor have they got better. The same moves are made every off-season as the team does not bring in youth but instead overpays for veteran players. Yzerman may be looking to save his job in the second half as Detroit is not in the playoff picture at the start of the new year. Could this be the season Yzerman and the entire coaching staff are let go in a fire sale at the end of the season?