The Detroit Red Wings are rolling-and not just in the standings. Through 50 games, they’ve hit the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
That’s not just a milestone-it’s a statement. At the moment, they’re neck-and-neck with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, and for a franchise that’s been grinding through a rebuild for the better part of a decade, this feels like a breakthrough.
With the NHL Trade Deadline looming on March 6, Detroit suddenly finds itself in unfamiliar territory: not just in the playoff hunt, but potentially in the buyer’s seat. And that opens the door to some intriguing possibilities.
One name that’s started to gain traction in league circles? Artemi Panarin.
According to NHL insiders Jeff Marek and Pierre McGuire, Panarin could be a legitimate trade target for the Red Wings. The New York Rangers forward was recently told by GM Chris Drury that he won’t be offered a new contract, making him a high-profile pending UFA-and a prime candidate to be moved before the deadline.
McGuire floated Detroit as a potential landing spot, and it’s not hard to see why. The Red Wings have been playing fast, loose, and confident hockey.
Kane looks rejuvenated, Lucas Raymond is showing flashes of elite-level quick-strike ability, and Alex DeBrincat’s OT winner against Ottawa was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be with the puck on his stick. Captain Dylan Larkin continues to drive the offense with speed and creativity, and the defense-anchored by the young tandem of Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson-is starting to look playoff-ready.
Now imagine adding Panarin to that mix.
McGuire called Panarin a “perfect fit” for Detroit, and there’s some real weight behind that statement. Not only is Panarin one of the most gifted offensive players in the league, but he also shares a well-documented on-ice chemistry with Patrick Kane.
The two were electric during their time in Chicago, regularly lighting up highlight reels and terrorizing opposing defenses. When they briefly reunited in New York in 2023, that same spark was still there.
If you’re Detroit, and you believe this team has the pieces to make a real playoff run, bringing in someone like Panarin could be the kind of move that shifts the needle in a big way. The Wings have cap flexibility-roughly $13 million in space-which gives them the room to absorb Panarin’s contract, especially if the Rangers retain a portion of his salary.
Of course, there’s a big question hanging over any potential deal: would Panarin be open to signing an extension in Detroit? That’s a key factor. We’ve seen this before-most recently with the Red Wings’ interest in Quinn Hughes, where talks reportedly fell apart due to the lack of a long-term commitment.
Still, if GM Steve Yzerman senses that Panarin could be more than a rental, the idea of packaging some of Detroit’s young talent to land a proven, elite forward becomes a lot more appealing. The Wings have built a deep prospect pool, and while no team wants to part with future assets lightly, sometimes the moment demands boldness.
Right now, Detroit is in a position it hasn’t been in for a long time: relevant, competitive, and trending upward. Whether they push all their chips in for a player like Panarin remains to be seen.
But make no mistake-this team is no longer just building for the future. The present is starting to look pretty exciting, too.