The Detroit Red Wings are off to a solid start this season. The club is second in the Atlantic Division behind the Montreal Canadiens and look well on its way to the playoffs after a nearly decade-long absence.
Despite the seemingly good fortunes, the Red Wings are far from perfect. They have a young team, but it’s one that could use as much scoring depth as possible. That situation has become even more pressing with veteran winger Patrick Kane out of the lineup.
So, why not take advantage of the current market situation to find a potential high-end scorer?
That scorer could be the New York Rangers‘ former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere.
Lafreniere, taken first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, has fallen on some hard times in Broadway. That’s why a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered for the talented winger.
Here’s what the trade pitch could look like:
Red Wings get:
Alexis Lafreniere, F
Rangers get:
2026 second-round pick
Carter Mazur, F
Erik Gustafsson, D
The price the Red Wings would have to pay for Lafreniere wouldn’t be nearly as high as if the 24-year-old were having a banner year. However, he’s scored just once in 14 games this season. So, the price tag could be a 2026 second-round pick to go with a mid-level prospect in Carter Mazur.
The Red Wings would also send veteran blueliner Erik Gustafsson as somewhat of a cap dump. Gustafsson played with the Rangers during the 2023-24 season. So, he would provide the Blueshirts with depth moving forward.
Red Wings Need More Scoring in Top 6
The Red Wings need as much scoring in their top six as they can get. That’s why Alexis Lafreinere would provide Detroit with another dangerous weapon at up top. Of course, that’s assuming that the former first-rounder can find his game and get back on track. If he can, Lafreniere would be a fantastic addition.
A change of scenery could well do that. Plus, playing with another young center like Marco Kapser could work very well. But then again, Red Wings’ coach Todd McLellan could give Lafreniere a shot on the top line with Dylan Larkin. Considering how well Larkin is playing now, Lafreniere could more easily rekindle his scoring touch.
Detroit Would Have No Trouble Fitting Lafreinere’s Cap Hit
The biggest question would be fitting Lafreniere’s cap hit under the Red Wings’ cap. The Wings have nearly $15 million in cap space at the moment. So, fitting Lafreniere’s $7.45 million cap hit wouldn’t be an issue.
Moving forward, the rising cap would offer even more leeway. The drawback, of course, is that more and more of the Red Wings’ rising stars will be coming out of their entry-level deals. That situation would force the Wings to manage their cap wisely.
As such, the Red Wings may think twice about adding a substantial cap hit, especially on a player who’s far from a sure thing at this point. But then again, it’s a chance the Wings should take if the price is right.
Red Wings Trade Pitch Lands Former 1st Overall Pick