Red Wings Likely To Trade Away Depth Players

The Detroit Red Wings are in a position to make some trades, and they have started the season on the winning side of things with a 5-1-0 record. Part of the success has come from rookies being injected into the lineup to provide the team with some life.

Elliotte Friedman discussed the Red Wings' roster situation on 32 Thoughts and mentioned that Detroit could look to deal from depth and trade. Players being dealt that could come from this are Erik Gustafsson, Justin Holl, and Jonatan Berggren. The returns wouldn't be game-changing, but they could help down the line in acquiring better players that would fit in their lineup.

With Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Axel Sandin Pellikka all making the Red Wings' roster out of training camp and playing in every game this season, some players were pushed out.

With two forwards being injected and playing well, Berggren has only gotten into two of the team's six games, averaging just 10:17 per game with zero special teams time. The Red Wings have five defensemen, 25 years of age or younger, in the lineup, including players who have stepped up and in like Sandin Pellikka, Albert Johansson, and Jacob Bernard-Docker, and pushing out veterans like Gustafsson and Holl, both of whom are in the AHL and have played three games down there already.

Holl isn't going to fetch a pick, but the Red Wings might retain some salary if a team comes calling. Gustafsson would get a lower pick and still has offense in his game, but it's not too late for Berggren to still find his role and game at the NHL level with a better opportunity. There was a time, not too long ago, that he scored 15 goals and 28 points in 67 games as a rookie with a chance in the lineup every day with better looks.

Detroit might be one of the teams that gets the ball rolling with trades early in the season, even if they aren't blockbusters.