Steve Yzerman's completed trade with the Anaheim Ducks could change everything for the Detroit Red Wings

Could we see playoff hockey once again in Little Caesar's Arena? Last season, the team was unable to break the ceiling into a wild-card spot. But with Steve Yzerman's latest acquisition of John Gibson, it looks much closer in the mirror.

Gibson has played his entire career in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks, playing 506 games behind a team that hasn't seen the playoffs since 2017-18.

He has a career 2.89 GAA and a .910 save percentage behind some of the worst teams in the league. Gibson is a legitimate game-changer for the Red Wings.

Gibson is more than a capable goaltender in the NHL, and if he'd played on some of the cup-winning teams in the 2010s, he could've been a Vezina Trophy winner. As a veteran goalie, he could very well be the player who sets the Wings on the path for a playoff run in 2025.

Gibson does have the benefit of being in the NHL with some longevity behind him. It shouldn't leave us pondering what he can bring to Detroit. In terms of prospects, though, the Red Wings do have a couple of options in the minors and NCAA to look at as long-term options, once Gibson's time has come and gone.

For Trey Augustine, he's played the last three years at Michigan State University and might be able to make the leap to the pros soon with the kind of stats he's put up lately: 2.08 GAA and a .924 save percentage. Of course, he'll have to take a year or more in the AHL before he makes the jump. But he is in the Red Wings' back pocket.

Whereas in the AHL, Sebastian Cossa has played 41 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins, with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He seems much more of a viable 1B, to Gibson's 1A, should Steve Yzerman ever decide to roll a two-goalie system.

Considering his latest three-goal concoction failed.

While the rebuild is still ongoing, the move is echoing a shift in direction for the team, and a few pieces they still could pick up down the road could end up being another linchpin in the team's road to a playoff run.

Adding a player like Connor Murphy, who's a solid shutdown defenseman with an offensive upside, could stabilize the blue line, especially if Yzerman wants to stay frugal this year.

Or if he's feeling bold enough, he could add Erik Karlsson, who could add a scoring option on the blue line, as a two-way defenseman, who may be past his prime but is still putting up 50+ seasons.

The Red Wings have one more piece in the puzzle, but it's not complete yet.