Detroit Red Wings Rumors: 3 Offseason Right Defense Targets

The Detroit Red Wings made a very interesting move at the trade deadline by parting ways with Filip Hronek in the midst of a career year. He is a young (25 years old) defenseman who is just entering his prime and has one year left on his deal at a good price. As the Red Wings have Moritz Seider and a left-shot defenseman forced to play his off side, they have a big hole to fill as they are primed to push for a playoff spot once again next season. Here are three players who they can target in the offseason, via trade or free agency, who could help them out.

Erik Karlsson

Since the Red Wings traded away an offensively-gifted right-shot defenseman, they have the cap space and need for the best one in the game right now. Erik Karlsson may not be young, but he has proven this season that when healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Karlsson became the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record 100 points in a season, and he has done so on the San Jose Sharks who have just 22 wins on the season. He leads the next highest scorer, Logan Couture, by 33 points as a defenseman. The two-time Norris Trophy winner and four-time finalist still appears to have a lot of great hockey left to play. He may have a cap hit of $11.5 million AAV, but he has proven he's worth it this season. With four years left on his deal, it appears as though he wants to win and could do so on the Red Wings if he accepts a trade there.

Tyson Barrie

Tyson Barrie is a cheaper option for the Red Wings as an offence-first defenseman who wouldn't cost as much to acquire and wouldn't require as much of a commitment. He has one year left on his deal at $4.5 million and has proven throughout his career that he is a great option on the power play.

Ben Chiarot is a gifted defender, so he could be the perfect partner for Barrie on the second line to allow the current Nashville Predators' defenseman to take chances offensively. Though Seider can man the top power-play unit, Barrie has been doing it for years and he is a power-play specialist. If that's an area the Red Wings want to improve, Barrie is their guy for the short-term.

Damon Severson

The New Jersey Devils won't be able to keep Damon Severson around next season. The team already has two very good top-four right-shot defenseman ahead of him on the depth chart and he will likely be looking for a larger role elsewhere. The Red Wings have a spot that he can thrive in on the second pairing and have the money to sign the soon-to-be free agent.

Severson showed us last season that he can play very impactful hockey when there is opportunity there for him. Last season Dougie Hamilton was injured and struggled while the Devils had yet to acquire John Marino. Severson played top minutes on the first pairing and power-play unit. He was pushed to a third pairing role this season. The Red Wings may be able to take advantage of the situational regression and get him at a good price.