Red Wings’ Kris Draper Talks Trade Deadline, Larkin’s Comments, and Detroit’s Resurgence
As the NHL trade deadline looms, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in a position they haven’t been in for quite some time - firmly in the playoff mix and generating real buzz. Assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper joined the “Real Kyper & Bourne” podcast this week and didn’t shy away from the tough questions, especially when it came to Dylan Larkin’s pointed comments following last year’s quiet deadline.
Larkin, the team’s captain and emotional heartbeat, had expressed some frustration after the Red Wings stood pat last season. At the time, he said, “It was hard that we didn’t do anything... it’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice, and maybe a morale boost as well.”
That kind of honesty could’ve stirred the pot internally, but Draper made it clear - there were no hard feelings.
“We don’t have a problem with that,” Draper said. “Dylan Larkin is our captain.
He’s obviously a very passionate hockey player and he wants to win. All that shows us is that he cares.”
Draper, a former player himself, understands where Larkin was coming from. When you’re in the room, chasing wins night after night, prospects and draft picks aren’t top of mind.
You’re focused on the now - on how to make the team better today. Draper acknowledged that reality, while also balancing it with the front office’s long-term vision.
“Players don’t think about draft picks or prospects. They think, ‘How can we get better right now?’
But for us, we’ve worked so hard to get to this point. We have to think of everything,” he said.
“We want to improve the team, no doubt, but we also have to be smart about it.”
With the Eastern Conference wide open and the Red Wings jockeying for position near the top of their division, the front office is taking a “wait-and-see” approach as the March 6 deadline approaches. Draper emphasized that the players have earned the right to be in this conversation with how they’ve played.
“It seems like every other night we’re first, second, or third in the division. The players are doing their job.
They’re playing well. All we can ask is that they keep doing that - and then we’ll see if there’s something out there that makes sense for our hockey club.”
Edvinsson and Seider: Building Blocks on the Blue Line
The conversation also turned to Detroit’s young defensive core, particularly Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider. The pairing has quietly become one of the most promising duos in the league, and Draper couldn’t hide his excitement.
“He’s 6-foot-6, an excellent skater, great puck skills - and he’s fit in so well on that left side,” Draper said of Edvinsson. “He’s doing exactly what we hoped he would do. He’s logging big, heavy minutes and has solidified that top pair for years to come.”
As for Seider, the 23-year-old has continued to evolve his game. Originally drafted for his shutdown ability and physical presence, Seider has grown into a legitimate two-way threat.
“He’s trending into a real good power-play defenseman,” Draper said. “His shot has improved, his footwork has improved.
He’s a low-maintenance guy who just shows up and plays. Every team wants that big, right-shot D-man - and we’ve got one.”
This is the kind of development Detroit has been banking on throughout the rebuild - drafting and developing cornerstone players who can carry the franchise forward. And right now, it looks like Edvinsson and Seider are doing just that.
Ending the Drought: Red Wings Eyeing Postseason Return
It’s been nine long years since the Red Wings last played playoff hockey. For a franchise with such a storied history, that’s felt like an eternity. But Draper believes the tide is turning - and not just because of the standings.
“It’s been a grind, longer than anyone would want,” he admitted. “But we’ve stayed the course with Steve Yzerman’s leadership and the vision for how we want to build this team.”
One of the biggest moves in that process was the acquisition of goaltender John Gibson, who’s been a steadying presence between the pipes. Add in the emergence of young talent and the leadership of veteran players, and the Red Wings have found a formula that’s clicking.
“It’s been a great start, but I feel like I’ve been scoreboard-watching since October,” Draper joked. “Everyone in our division keeps winning.
But we’re proud of how the guys are playing. They’re getting great coaching under Todd McLellan, and they’ve put us in a good situation.”
With the Olympic break on the horizon, the Red Wings’ focus is clear: keep pushing, keep climbing, and keep proving they belong in the playoff picture.
Draper’s message was simple - the Red Wings are back in the fight, and they’re not done building yet.