The Detroit Red Wings have been hunting for a way to break out of the middle and get back to the playoffs, and a potential path may be sitting in Seattle.
That’s the read coming out of Elliotte Friedman’s season-ending appearance on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast, where he ran through teams around the league and flagged the Kraken as a club worth watching for Detroit. Friedman said Seattle could be open to moving goal-scoring winger Jared McCann and defenseman Vince Dunn, with both players entering the final years of their contracts. The idea, according to Friedman, is to turn either veteran into pieces that can jump right into the lineup.
For the Red Wings, that kind of setup fits. Detroit has built up a deep pool of young talent, both in the NHL and on the way, along with a stockpile of draft picks that could give Seattle the kind of return it’s looking for. Names such as Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Eddie Genborg were mentioned as possible trade chips, and Albert Johansson could also be part of a package if the fit made sense.
McCann would bring the kind of scoring Detroit has been trying to add. The 30-year-old missed 30 games this past season but still put up 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in 52 games.
When healthy, the Stratford, Ontario native has reached at least 50 points in five straight seasons. He’d give the Wings an immediate lift in the top six.
Dunn would fill another obvious need. Detroit’s only notable left-shot defenseman right now is Simon Edvinsson, and bringing in Dunn would let Ben Chiarot move down to a third-pairing role. Dunn, 29, has already shown what he can do offensively from the blue line, posting a career-high 64 points in 2022-23 and then following that with steady 40-point production over the last three seasons.
There’s also the Seattle side of the equation. Friedman noted that the Kraken like to see themselves as a place where younger players can find a bigger role, which lines up with the idea of dealing established veterans for prospects and futures.
One other name in the mix is Shane Wright. At 22, he still hasn’t fully settled in at the NHL level.
His rookie year offered plenty of promise with 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points in 79 games, but his sophomore season dipped to 27 points in 74 games. Around the league, some believe Wright has lost confidence, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs.
For a patient team, he looks like a buy-low swing.
Detroit is reportedly exploring several options this offseason, and one of them could easily run through Seattle if the Red Wings decide McCann, Dunn or even Wright is the right kind of target.
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