With the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline on the horizon, the Detroit Red Wings face an unusual circumstance: they’re among the NHL’s buyers this year.
Sure, the franchise has bought at the trade deadline many times before – pretty much all of Ken Holland’s tenure as general manager. And Steve Yzerman added plenty of talent while overseeing the Tampa Bay Lightning. But this year—and this organization—is different. This is uncharted territory for the rebuilt Red Wings.
Red Wings Facing Lopsided Seller’s Market
Often, the league settles into a relatively balanced split between buyers, sellers, and neutral teams around the trade deadline. That equilibrium does not exist this year, though.
For context, the 2025 deadline unfolded as a clear seller’s market. The pool of impact players available was limited at best, with 12 teams ultimately selling to one degree or another.
This year, fewer teams have formally committed to selling – and have top-of-the-lineup players available. Sure, there are others out there looking to deal, but may not fit as trade partners for the Red Wings.
Enter the Red Wings. It’s finally time to buy, and there’s only a few players on the trade block that truly fit their needs.
Trade deadline prices are already high compared to what we see during the offseason. This year, though, figures to be even pricier. There will be 20-plus teams competing for the same scarce resources.
Operating as buyers is unfamiliar territory for Yzerman’s Red Wings. Navigating a market that so tilts in the favor of sellers, however, introduces an added layer of complexity – one this organization has yet to confront under his leadership.
Red Wings Seeking Top-of-the-Lineup Players
We’ve already covered Detroit’s trade deadline needs: a top-six forward and a top-four defenseman. And it goes without saying that these types of players cost one or more premium assets to acquire.
Up until now, Yzerman hasn’t traded for very many top-tier players during his time in Detroit. In fact, he has only completed three deals where the Red Wings were the buyers in the transaction and they parted with at least one premium asset:
- Traded a 2021 second-round pick in a deal for Nick Leddy
- Traded a 2024 first-round pick in a deal for Alex DeBrincat
- Traded a 2027 second-round pick in a deal for John Gibson
It’s also worth noting that the premium picks involved in the Leddy and DeBrincat swaps were previously acquired from other teams – not their own selections. Every other Yzerman trade featured the Red Wings selling off assets, neutral hockey trades, or buys involving mid- or lower-tier assets.
All of this to say, this is new calculus for Yzerman and the Red Wings. They have their own internal value for the prospects and draft picks they so meticulously accumulated. Who would they be willing to give up for, say, MacKenzie Weegar? Or Robert Thomas? Or Ryan O’Reilly?
Related: Red Wings Trade Deadline Blueprint: Top-Six Help, Defensive Upgrades & Players to Target
None of these are simple decisions. Plus, as I noted above, they’ll be one of many teams competing to acquire these top-of-the-lineup players; trade offers will likely need to be overpays at this juncture to get a deal done.
The Red Wings have a war chest of prospects and picks at their disposal. But it’s unclear how comfortable they’ll be drawing from it.
Final Word
Yzerman tasked the team with earning reinforcements. They’ve done that. Now comes the harder part: determining how much of the future the organization is willing to exchange for the present.
It’s a new world – for Detroit’s management team and fans alike. If the Red Wings are serious about adding top-of-the-lineup talent, it’s going to cost a lot given the current market conditions. It won’t be an easy task, either.
This is what the Red Wings built up for, though. And soon, we’ll find out how bold they’re willing to be in this new territory – their actions will give us a look into how the organization will approach their playoff challenger phase.
