The Detroit Red Wings are gearing up for the trade deadline, and this year, it seems General Manager Steve Yzerman is ready to make some moves. With the team in playoff contention, there's a buzz around the possibility of bolstering the roster, particularly with a right-shot defenseman who has term left on his contract.
Previously, the Red Wings were linked to Rasmus Andersson, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, and Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues. Now, a new name has surfaced: Calgary Flames defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.
According to Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos, Weegar could be on the move, and the Red Wings are considered a potential destination. Weegar fits the bill as a right-shot defenseman with five years remaining on a $6.25 million contract. However, he does have a no-trade clause, which means he would need to approve any move to Detroit.
Weegar was part of a major trade in 2022, moving from the Florida Panthers to the Flames. While he's shown solid defensive play in Calgary, this season has been challenging.
With an average ice time of 23:10, Weegar's plus/minus is at -32, a stark contrast to his usual performance. The Flames' struggles, ranking 13th in goals allowed, haven't helped his stats.
Despite this, Weegar's potential is clear. He has three goals, 17 assists, 67 penalty minutes, 129 blocked shots, 127 hits, and 19 takeaways in 56 games this season.
For the Red Wings, adding Weegar could mean strengthening their defense behind Moritz Seider, a Norris Trophy contender. Detroit currently allows 2.97 goals per game, ranking 12th in the NHL, and adding talent like Weegar could improve those numbers.
With just over a week until the deadline, the Red Wings have time to weigh their options and decide if Weegar is the right fit to enhance their playoff push.