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Meet the Buyers: The Detroit Red Wings look to be on the cusp of making the post-season
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Feb 28, 2026, 15:30 ESTUpdated: Feb 27, 2026, 23:55 EST
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Are the Detroit Red Wings finally good?
The past three seasons, the Red Wings were in and around a playoff spot until eventually going cold in March and just barely missing the last two seasons. While their position isn’t secured by any means, the Wings have a 34-19-6 record with 74 points, six behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top of the Atlantic Division and six ahead of the team on the outside looking in.
It’s been a long time since the Red Wings added before a trade deadline, choosing to stand pat the last three seasons, which likely helped in their downfall. In the seventh season in Steve Yzerman’s Yzerplan, this is the year that the Red Wings need to add.
With that being said, let’s take a look at their cap situation, their needs, and what the Wings would have to offer the Calgary Flames if the two teams link up on a trade.

Red Wings’ needs and cap situation

The Red Wings are poised to make a huge splash. They’re a rare contender who not only have the assets to make a massive deal, but also have the cap space to make that move. They have over $50 million in cap space, and will have over $59.3 million in cap space by the Mar. 6 trade deadline as they’ve been accumulating cap all season long.
Their needs are pretty simple, they need to get better. Whether that be the addition of a top six forward or a top four defenceman, or both, something needs to be done. The good news is that the Flames have players that fit both those categories.
Funnily enough, the Wings have already been linked to MacKenzie Weegar, as Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos made that connection a few days ago. The Wings showed interest in Michigan native Quinn Hughes before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, so you have to imagine they could use a player like Weegar, who had 20 goals just two seasons ago. Weegar has a cap hit of $6.25 million, which is no problem, but also has a full no-trade clause, which could be a problem.
The Red Wings have had an eternal need for a second line centre, as Andrew Copp is currently slated there in Daily Faceoff’s daily line tool. Copp isn’t a bad player, in fact he’s on pace to have his best season as a Red Wing, but he doesn’t have the same scoring ability like Nazem Kadri, who is one season removed from a career-best 35 goals. Even at the age of 35 years old, Kadri is a second-line centre who brings Stanley Cup winning experience. Kadri earns $7 million until the end of the 2028-29 season, and has a full no-move clause.
Blake Coleman is a forward who could be of interest as well, while Zach Whitecloud would potentially be an upgrade on the Red Wings’ bottom pair.

What the Wings have to offer

The Red Wings have one of the strongest farm systems in the league, with plenty of young, talented players on their roster. Heading into the season, right-shot defenceman Axel Sandin-Pellikka ranked as their top prospect, and he’s had an okay start to his National Hockey League career, scoring six goals and 18 points in 59 games.
Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa are notable goaltending prospects, but are of no use to the Flames with Dustin Wolf’s emergence. One player who didn’t rank on their list is Minnesota-Duluth’s Max Plante, who has 22 goals and 44 points in his sophomore season, and is a legitimate Hobey Baker candidate.
In terms of young centres, Nate Danielson is the most intriguing of the bunch, as he’s a 6’2” right-shot centre who has three goals and 15 points in 18 AHL games this season. The scoring hasn’t translated to the NHL just yet, as he has two goals and seven points in 28 games.
The Wings also have young players like Marco Kasper and Emmitt Finnie on the roster, while prospects like Carter Bear, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Eddie Genborg will be on their way soon enough.
It’s a very deep prospect pool that I’m barely touching the surface of, and the Wings are well positioned for the future. Could that future involve Kadri or Weegar? Time will tell.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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