Red Wings Need Top-6 Upgrade Ahead Of Trade Deadline

The Detroit Red Wings are a top-5 team in the NHL this season and are tied in second place in the Eastern Conference. It might finally be the year they turn things around and snap the nine-year playoff drought in a big way.

The Red Wings have over $28 million in cap space, so there is so much room to add. Not only do they need a good defensive upgrade, they also need to address their forward group. Jeff Marek said, "A top-6 winger is what this team - I shouldn't say top-6 winger, a top-6 forward. Ideally it's a second line center."

Detroit has chosen to spread out the scoring a bit and take Lucas Raymond off the top line and shift him to the third line. This isn't a long-term solution as Raymond is too good and with all the cap space, it makes too much sense to bring in someone else to strengthen the scoring depth.

Marco Kasper might become a trade target, but it's tough to give up on him after one bad half a season. If it means getting someone like Elias Pettersson, Ryan O'Reilly, Brayden Schenn, or Nazem Kadri, it might be worth it though. That brings in a playoff-tested or skilled top-6 center for the Red Wings, no matter the cap hit.

Only Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk are UFAs up front after the season, and whether they're back or not, some better players who can do more damage need to be brought in with all the space available if the Red Wings want to get serious. Yzerman might be waiting for the right player or the right time, but at least two acquisitions have to be made before the trade deadline or it will be a big failure.