The Detroit Red Wings have been in the mix for the two biggest trade targets this season. First, the club was in the hunt for Quinn Hughes. Then, the Wings missed out on Rasmus Andersson.
But those swings and misses could be a blessing in disguise. With the New York Rangers officially punting on the season, the biggest name hitting the trade market is Russian sniper Artemi Panarin.
Just about every team in the league could make a case for acquiring the 34-year-old superstar. But the Red Wings can make a solid case given a unique connection to the Rangers’ leading scorer.
As Peter Baugh and Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic noted, Panarin has a solid relationship with Red Wings’ veteran star Patrick Kane.
That relationship goes back to Panarin’s first two seasons in the NHL. Panarin signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, joining Kane and Jonathan Toews in the Windy City.
Kane’s leadership was instrumental in helping Panarin settle into the NHL. While the Blackhawks traded Panarin after the 2016-17 season, the relationship between the two stars has been patent.
Joining a familiar face like Kane on an up-and-coming playoff team could be an enticing option for Panarin. Heading to a team trending upward, as opposed to the Rangers retool, could be highly appealing.
Red Wings Would Need Panarin to Waive No-Trade Clause
Arguably, the biggest obstacle standing in the way of any team courting Panarin is his no-trade clause. That’s a hurdle the Red Wings would need to clear in order to finalize a trade with New York.
That’s why links such as the one with Kane are crucial in these situations. Without an evident link like a friendship, it’s tough to sell a player on waiving his no-trade clause.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, do have the added incentive of being a team on the rise. After years of dealing with losing seasons, the club is finally in a position to contend. While the Red Wings aren’t necessarily in a position where they’re one piece away from a Stanley Cup, they’re getting close.
Adding Panarin would address the key issue of additional scoring. Panarin could be a key piece in ushering in a new era of contention for the Red Wings.
Detroit Would Need to Extend Panarin
Even if the Red Wings pulled off a trade for Panarin, they would still need to extend him. The chatter is that Panarin wants a long-term contract at fair market value. That’s something that GM Steve Yzerman may need to think long and hard about.
Giving up the pieces needed to land Panarin would make sense only if the team could extend him. The Rd Wings have the cap space, but is that something Detroit wants to do?
Ultimately, the prospect of having to re-sign Panarin could be the biggest deterrent in pulling the trigger on a deal. The Red Wings have as good a chance as anyone to land Panarin, plus they have the cap space. It may only be a matter of getting a deal across the line.
Red Wings Have Unique Connection to Rangers Trade Target