Ducks & Red Wings Linked To Blockbuster Trade

Sunday, August 23, 2026 ,
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The Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings are two teams who have been all over headlines this offseason. The Ducks had to deal with a massive offer sheet on Leo Carlsson, made by the Philadelphia Flyers, as the Flyers beat out three other teams, who also made offer sheets to Carlsson this summer. Now, the Ducks are stuck paying Carlsson $18 million AAV, and now don't have enough cap space to sign restricted free agent, Cutter Gauthier. 

In Detroit, captain Dylan Larkin asked for a trade at his exit interview last season and since Steve Yzerman has been removed from his duties as GM, the trade talks have fizzled out. Larkin still wants out, he'd prefer to be moved to the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, or Florida Panthers, but at this time, none of those teams are aligning with what the Red Wings want in return. 

So the Ducks have issues, the Red Wings have issues, and perhaps they could help each other out? On a recent episode of What Chaos, co-host Pete Blackburn was spit-balling and made a very interesting connection between the Ducks and Wings. What about a potential deal involving a Larkin and Gauthier swap?

This trade makes a ton of sense and allows both teams to continue to push for the playoffs, while easing the burden on their cap constraints. The Red Wings land a prolific young goal-scorer, who has 50-goal potential, meanwhile the Ducks land a number-two center behind Carlsson, and a top-four defenceman, which they desperately need. 

Blackburn could be on to something here. Keep an eye on these two teams as training camps approach. 
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