The Detroit Red Wings are aiming to end their playoff drought, and one trade idea suggests they might acquire a superstar forward to help achieve that goal.
A fan using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool proposed a trade that would bring Kirill Kaprizov from the Minnesota Wild to the Red Wings.
Red Wings would receive:
– Kirill Kaprizov (with $4.5 million of his salary retained by the Wild)
Wild would receive:
– Nate Danielson
– Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
– Joe Veleno
– Justin Holl
– A 2025 first-round pick
– A 2026 first-round pick
This potential trade would be a significant move for Detroit, acquiring Kaprizov, one of the NHL’s top talents. However, the cost would be high, involving two first-round draft picks, two promising prospects, and two NHL players.
Kaprizov is currently in the fourth year of his five-year, $45 million contract. Adding him to the Red Wings’ lineup would provide an immediate boost to their offense. Last season, Kaprizov played 75 games, tallying 46 goals and 50 assists for a total of 96 points.
The biggest pieces in the trade for Minnesota would be the two first-round picks and the prospects Nate Danielson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Danielson, picked ninth overall in the 2023 NHL draft, is expected to make his NHL debut soon. Brandsegg-Nygard, taken 15th overall in the 2024 draft, also has high potential.
Joe Veleno, an NHL-ready player, could help fill the gap left by Kaprizov. The 24-year-old forward, drafted 30th overall in 2018, played 80 games last season, scoring 12 goals and adding 16 assists. He is beginning the first year of a two-year, $4.55 million contract.
Justin Holl, currently in the AHL, is also part of the deal. The defenseman has two years left on his three-year, $10.2 million contract.
Kaprizov’s Uncertain Future with the Wild
With only two years remaining on his contract, there is some uncertainty regarding Kaprizov’s future with the Wild. While he is eligible to sign an extension on July 1, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman mentioned that it’s unclear if Kaprizov intends to stay in Minnesota.
Friedman noted, “Depending on where Minnesota is, both at the deadline and next summer, the results that they have this year… There’s going to be a kind of Kaprizov watch going on… They’re going to have to show him that they’re worth staying with.”
Kaprizov, drafted 135th overall by the Wild in 2015, has so far played 278 games in his NHL career, recording 160 goals and 170 assists for a total of 330 points.
Red Wings Aim to Make the Playoffs
Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs last season, but they are determined to change that in the 2024-25 season. The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, and their current roster, including star forward Alex DeBrincat, is optimistic.
“When we’re working hard, we’re a good team,” said DeBrincat. “There are stretches when we get away from that. I think we can learn from last year and really buckle in this year. Be focused every game, and you can’t afford to lose any points.”
The Red Wings will begin their 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
