This Yzerman move turned out to be really good for the Wings. They are now facing very tight salary cap space and they need to re-sign young stars like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. To add on top, the first-round pick from the trade turned to be Axel Sandin-Pellikka, a top defensive prospect right now for the Wings. They also used the second-round pick to draft Brady Cleveland, a big player that could become a solid defenseman in the NHL.
In conclusion, while Hronek could have helped the Red Wings, I do not think he would have made them contenders right now. The team is still rebuilding and might even take a step back next season since they were struggling this year. With the salary cap in mind next year, Yzerman probably would not have been able to afford Hronek high demands in term of salary, making the trade the best option for the team future.