Will The Red Wings Make A Move At The Trade Deadline? Karsch And Anderson Discuss
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
In my 12 years at WXYT, I've learned that every single year the one thing you will hear about the Detroit Red Wings at trade deadline is "they need to get tougher on the blue line."
This year isn't any different based on what I hear from the callers on a daily basis.
I view Scott "The Gator" Anderson and Doug Karsch as the top hockey minds in the Ticket building so I asked their thoughts on whether the Red Wings will make a move on or before the trade deadline, which is Monday, Feb. 29.
"Let me start by saying I don't think they're going to do anything," Karsch said. "Everybody I have talked to says they love their team and unless something falls into their lap ... However, special teams have been a problem. If they can improve the power play I would rather see them improve the power play than the penalty kill because ultimately your best penalty killer is your goalie and they have that taken care of. If somehow can find a goal scorer on the power play I would like to see that."
"It's hard for the Wings to make any kind of improvement come the trade deadline because of the salary cap," Anderson said. "You have to match up the dollars and they can't afford to go over the cap and for the Red Wings they have all of this young talent, but the young talent isn't make a whole lot of money. So if you're going to trade off a couple of guys to get one.
"It would be easier if Ericcson were healthy, he's coming back this weekend which is great. You have to look at a Franzen or a Drew Miller or somebody else who is making more money to be healthy, but they're not, so they can't be dealt, so it's really tough for the Wings to make a move. I still expect them to make a trade, though it's not going to be something that is a blockbuster deal. If they are going to make a trade its going to have to be for young talent, who is disenchanted with one of their players, maybe like a Jonathan Drouin from Tampa Bay, and they can send a couple of guys their way so the money equals out."
Earlier this year "The Hockey News" predicted that the Red Wings would pull of a blockbuster trade for Steven Stamkos. It doesn't appear that will happen.
Do you think the Red Wings will make a trade before the trade deadline on Monday?
