With several buyers around the NHL making trades this deadline week, the Detroit Red Wings have been quiet. It is a bit surprising, as the Red Wings should be one of the NHL’s most aggressive teams right now. They not only have a ton of cap space to work with, but they are also looking to successfully break their nine-year playoff drought.
The Red Wings have multiple trade needs that they should be looking to address by 3 p.m. ET on Friday. Their two biggest needs are another top-six center and a top-four right-shot defenseman. However, they would benefit by adding to their forward depth.
Now, the Red Wings have done just that, as they have struck a deal with the Ottawa Senators to reunite with one of their former players.
Red Wings Acquire Forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators
The Red Wings have announced that they have acquired forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick.
Perron is undoubtedly a player who the Red Wings know well, as the 37-year-old winger spent the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons as a member of the Original Six club. Now, with this trade, Perron will be heading back to Detroit and will look to be a key part of their roster in the process.
When looking at the Red Wings’ current roster, Perron should slot very nicely in their top nine. The 19-year veteran is still an impactful forward at this stage in his career, and the truth is in his stats this campaign. In 49 games with the Senators this season before the trade, the veteran forward recorded 10 goals, 15 assists, 25 points, 64 hits, and a plus-2 rating. With numbers like these, he should provide Detroit with some solid secondary offensive production as they push for the playoffs.
While the Red Wings bringing in Perron is not a big splash, he certainly has the potential to give their forward group a boost. This is because he not only chips in offensively and throws the body, but he is also a well-known leader who should serve well as a mentor for Detroit’s younger players.
As for the Senators, they have landed a draft pick for a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) in Perron. With the Senators being on the wrong side of the playoff line, it makes sense that they have decided to move on from Perron. They have now also gained some cap space if they want to make a move elsewhere.
Red Wings Can’t Be Done Making Moves Yet
Now that the Red Wings have made a solid move in acquiring Perron, they should continue to stay busy. As noted above, they still have two major needs in a top-six center and a top-four right-shot defenseman that they should be looking to address.
Robert Thomas and Vincent Trocheck are two big-name centers the Red Wings have been linked to. As for defenseman, a few potential options for Detroit to consider include Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, and Zach Whitecloud.
Yet, for now, the Red Wings should be happy that they have added Perron to the mix.
NHL Trade: Red Wings Reunite With $8 Million Winger