Elliotte Friedman reveals Red Wings are on the verge of acquiring a reinforcement up front
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NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has reported that the Detroit Red Wings are shopping their depth in an effort to improve the lineup up front.
The 32 Thoughts Podcast's own, Elliotte Friedman, has reported that the Red Wings are working the phones to upgrade their forward group.
That involves a multitude of trades that could involve depth forwards in the lineup trades, so prospects can begin moving into spots in the NHL.
The team has started off hot with a 5-1 record to begin the season, but after two games against the Buffalo Sabres, and New York Islanders began to cool down a bit.
Now, according to Elliotte Friedman, the team is looking for new homes for players like Erik Gustafsson, forward Jonatan Berggren, and more.
»Detroit has Erik Gustafsson in the AHL, and some forwards who might need a change of scenery because their runway is shortening in Motown."
The Detroit Red Wings To Upgrade the Forward Group?
If Friedman is referring to other players who are veterans in the lineup, that could mean that J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp are others who could be trade chips in the future.
This could be a perfect chance to move the forwards who have been disappointing as of late, and not playing up to expectations when they arrived.
Compher has one solid season as a Red Wing, scoring 48 points (19-29) in 2023-24. He hasn't replicated that production since.
Though Coop's leadership pedigree may be his saving grace:
»Copp is a Michigan native as well as a locker room leader which would lessen his chances of being moved but Compher could be an option.»
For Compher, the Illinois native, could be one player the Blackhawks bring in for ancillary scoring, with $15.7 million in cap space available.
It'd be a nice way for the Red Wings to save $5.1 million if they could figure out a new destination for him.
This would allow the team to shift players like Carter Mazur or Nate Danielson to be promoted into the team's bottom-six, upgrading the lineup at a bargain price.
Though other forwards who could be on the block who are near the end of their development are Michael Rasmussen and Elmer Soderblom.
Though for now it seems it's speculation at the moment, the Red Wings would beneift from opening up the lineup for the youth movement.
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