If the Detroit Red Wings are serious about landing a true first-line center, the clock is already working against them.
The market has thinned again after the Philadelphia Flyers tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, leaving Steve Yzerman with fewer obvious paths to a game-changing pivot before the start of the 2026-27 season. With Dylan Larkin on the way out and the team’s direction still unsettled, the Red Wings are in a spot where creativity matters.
One name that fits the bill is Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli.
Fantilli, a former University of Michigan center and the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, took a major step last season. He finished with 59 points in 82 games, and at 21 years old, he still has plenty of runway left to grow into even more. He already looks capable of handling top-line center duties.
What makes Fantilli especially appealing for Detroit is the style he brings. His speed jumps off the page, and so does his compete level and physical edge. That combination would give the Red Wings a different kind of center than the one they’ve had to lean on, and it’s the kind of profile that could help them stop fading late in games and stand up better against tougher opponents.
That’s also why an offer sheet makes sense here. Fantilli has the kind of ceiling that could make the move worth the risk, even if it comes with a steep price tag.
And that price would be steep. If the Red Wings followed the Flyers and went above $12 million, they’d be on the hook for four first-round picks. That’s the kind of cost that keeps plenty of general managers from even entertaining the idea.
Still, if Yzerman is going to swing big, this is the sort of moment that calls for it.
An offer sheet for Fantilli would also reshape the Larkin conversation. If Detroit lands a center of that caliber, it no longer has to build everything around replacing Larkin’s offense. That would open the door to moving him for futures or for help on the wing or defense.
For a team looking for the fastest possible route back to relevance at center, this is the clearest path mentioned. Outside of a gamble on Elias Pettersson, there isn’t another move that offers the same upside. And if the Blue Jackets match, Detroit would at least force a division rival into a difficult spot while making the attempt itself.
In Other News...
Red Wings Just Closed The Door On A Prospect Fans Know Well
Lombardi is moving on after a familiar run through the Red Wings pipeline, and the next stop comes with a clearer path to the NHL. New Jersey has signed the forward to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $875,000, a deal that starts as a two-way arrangement before shifting to a one-way salary in the second year. For Detroit, it ends the possibility of keeping a player who had become a well-known name around Grand Rapids and a reminder of how quickly promising organizational pieces can become trade chips.
The Devils did not just land Lombardis signing rights, either. Detroit got a 2026 fourth-round draft pick back in the exchange, a modest return that suggests the Wings preferred to take something now rather than let the situation linger. Lombardi had earned attention as one of Grand Rapids more dangerous offensive options, the kind of quick, creative playmaker who can make a case for NHL time, but the Red Wings have now closed that door and moved on to the next decision. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Yzerman May Have Saved Red Wings From A Costly Mistake
The Red Wings never got pulled into the Darnell Nurse sweepstakes, and that may end up looking like a prudent bit of restraint from Steve Yzerman. San Jose landed the veteran defenseman from Edmonton, while Detroit stayed on the sidelines as free agency moved on and Yzerman continued filling out the roster with a series of signings and a trade for forward Keegan Kolesar.
For a team still trying to balance urgency with flexibility, passing on a splashy defense addition can be just as telling as making one. Nurse would have brought immediate name value and a likely spot in Detroits top four, but the kind of price tag and commitment tied to a move like that can reshape a blue line for years, which is exactly why Yzermans decision not to chase it may age well. [Read more 🡒]