Red Wings linked to veteran Michigan native defenseman
Photo credit: https://www.nhl.com/news/alec-martinez-embraces-mentor-role-with-blackhawks
The Red Wings have already been linked to Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers, but could a native Michigander make his way back home?
The Detroit Red Wings are on a roll right now, having won 7-consecutive games for the second time in a 20-game span and setting franchise history in the process.
The Trade Deadline is approaching (March 7), and while the Red Wings have already been linked to Rasmus Ristolainen, could they be considering bringing a native Michigan son home for valuable blue line depth?
Tony Wolak of The Hockey Writers the Red Wings to three different depth defensemen as the Deadline approaches, including Michigan's own Alec Martinez.
Still, adding another blueliner would be a wise decision. As we saw in December, an injury to the Red Wings' defensive corps could be catastrophic.
«Detroit can approach this in two ways - a short-term solution or one for the long term. The short-term option would be to add a serviceable, bottom-pairing blueliner around the deadline. This would be a cheap acquisition - costing a fourth- (or later-) round pick or low-level prospect. And ideally, Detroit can capitalize on a seller who has been unable to move a player that they want to deal. Essentially, another warm body who can effectively slot into the third pairing, such as Brian Dumoulin, Josh Mahura, or Alec Martinez.
«Detroit can approach this in two ways - a short-term solution or one for the long term. The short-term option would be to add a serviceable, bottom-pairing blueliner around the deadline. This would be a cheap acquisition - costing a fourth- (or later-) round pick or low-level prospect. And ideally, Detroit can capitalize on a seller who has been unable to move a player that they want to deal. Essentially, another warm body who can effectively slot into the third pairing, such as Brian Dumoulin, Josh Mahura, or Alec Martinez.
Martinez signed with the struggling Blackhawks over the summer, and has previously played with the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights.
He is a 2-time Stanley Cup winner, having scored the Cup-winning goal in double overtime in the 2014 Finals against the New York Rangers, while winning his second Cup with Vegas in 2023.
He's a pending free-agent after this year ends with an AAV (average annual value) of $4 million.
Right now, veteran Red Wingsd defenseman Jeff Petry remains out of the lineup after undergoing surgery.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 6 | 207 ANSWERS Red Wings linked to veteran Michigan native defenseman Would you rather the Red Wings potentially target Alec Martinez or Rasmus Ristolainen? | ||
| Rasmus Ristolainen | 125 | 60.4 % |
| Alec Martinez | 82 | 39.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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