The Detroit Red Wings are expected to be one of the most active NHL teams ahead of the trade deadline. Detroit currently sits third in the Atlantic Division standings, safely in a playoff spot. Despite their place in the table, they could use some roster reinforcements. The Red Wings rank 20th in the league with an average of just 2.97 goals per game.
Because of this, Detroit has been linked with acquiring a new center in the coming days. New York Rangers star Vincent Trocheck may be the top player in this position to be on the trade block. The veteran has been linked with a move back to Michigan in recent weeks. The previous Olympic roster freeze, however, has hindered any deals from being completed.
Although this move could still happen now that the freeze is over, the Red Wings are more likely to target a defenseman. The Athletic is now claiming that St. Louis Blues veteran Justin Faulk would be a perfect fit in Detroit. Faulk has also been linked with a potential switch to the Red Wings in the past. In fact, the team’s beat writer for the outlet previously claimed that the blueliner would be an “ideal fit” for the team.
According to the new report, Faulk would be the best choice for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman for multiple reasons. Perhaps most importantly, the veteran is reliable enough to play 22+ minutes per night. The blueliner is averaging a TOI of 22:29 minutes so far this season in St. Louis. Mo Seider and Simon Edvinsson are the only Detroit defensemen to receive at least 21 minutes each game this season.
Justin Faulk Would Check Plenty of Boxes with the Detroit Red Wings
GettyJustin Faulk is one of the top NHL defensive trade candidates.
On top of his ability to play serious minutes, particularly in crunch time, Faulk can also help produce offense from the blue line. While the Blues are experiencing a down year, the veteran has still put up solid numbers during 2025-26. His 30 points are already just two behind what he racked up all of last season. To put this in perspective, Seider is the only Red Wings defenseman to post more than 18 points during the current campaign.
Another key piece of the puzzle regarding Detroit’s interest in Faulk is that they can easily afford his contract. The veteran carries a $6.5 million AAV cap hit for St. Louis. Although this is a significant salary, the Red Wings have plenty of cap room at the moment.
According to PuckPedia.com, Detroit has the second-most available space in the entire league. Faulk is also under contract until the summer of 2027, which would be enticing for Yzerman. The exec prefers not to target pure rentals.
Detroit Likely to Give up Multiple Picks, Prospects for Veteran
The Red Wings will, however, have to make the Blues a serious offer to acquire the defenseman. Because Faulk is considered one of the top available blueliners in the market, Detroit will have competition for the veteran. According to The Athletic, the Red Wings could send a 2026 first-round draft pick, an additional second-round selection, and prospects William Wallinder and Landon Miller to St. Louis.
Wallinder, a 2020 second-round pick, has been a mainstay with the Grand Rapids Griffins in recent years. Miller, a highly-rated goaltender, has a 2.87 GAA with the Soo Greyhounds in 2025-26. Detroit, however, does have multiple quality netminders in its prospect pool.
Red Wings Named Perfect Fit for Top Available Defenseman