Detroit Wings acquire ex-28 goal scorer from the Colorado Avalanche in an intriguing trade proposal

With the quiet offseason this year, many analysts believe a wave of trades will go down before the start of the next season.

According to a new report from Heavy.com, the Detroit Red Wings could target a member of the Colorado Avalanche on the trade market.

Targeting a top-six forward would make sense for Steve Yzerman. If most of the top players reportedly available would be costly, Valeri Nichushkin's value on the trade market shouldn't be as high considering the controversies surrounding him.

Limited to 43 games last season after being suspended for violating the NHL's substance abuse policies, the 30-year-old, 6-foot-4 Russian forward scored 34 points, including 21 goals, in 43 games with the Avalanche. He has five seasons left on his $6,125,000 AAV deal signed in 2022.

If the Wings were to go after him, Yzerman would need to send Jonatan Berggren and a 2026 first-round pick to the Avs, per Heavy.com.

Berggren was involved in a lot of trade rumors over the past months. The 25-year-old Swedish forward agreed to sign a one-year, $1,825,000 contract in Detroit earlier this summer, but many analysts consider him one of the Wings' most interesting trade assets due to his high upside.

In 154 career games in the NHL, the 5-foot-11 Swedish forward tallied 58 points, including 29 goals.

The fact that Yzerman would let him go for a controversial veteran wouldn't exactly fit his managing style. Considering many other players will be available, it would be surprising to see Nichushkin in Detroit.