The Detroit Red Wings currently lack a definitive No. 1 goaltender, a situation they may seek to address in the offseason.
Using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool, one user proposed a trade that would send goaltender Thatcher Demko to Detroit in a three-player deal with the Vancouver Canucks. This proposed transaction would take place during the offseason.
Proposed trade:
Red Wings acquire:
- Thatcher Demko
- Filip Chytil
Canucks acquire:
- Michael Rasmussen
- 2027 third-round pick
The deal makes sense for both teams: Detroit would secure a star goalie and an NHL forward, while Vancouver would gain a young NHL forward and a draft pick, while also offloading Demko’s salary.
Demko is in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract, meaning Detroit would only have him for one more season. Although Demko has faced injury issues this year, when healthy, he’s considered a reliable No. 1 goalie. A two-time All-Star, he’s posted a 6-6-3 record with a 2.87 GAA and a .891 SV% this season.
In addition to Demko, the Red Wings would also acquire Chytil, who has two years remaining on his contract. The former first-round pick could slot into a middle-six role for Detroit. Chytil has registered 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 56 games this season.
In exchange, the Red Wings would part with Rasmussen, who is a more affordable option compared to Chytil. Rasmussen, currently in the first year of a four-year, $12.8 million deal, has tallied 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points in 63 games.
Detroit’s Need for a Goalie
Although the Red Wings don’t have a definitive No. 1 goalie, they do have highly regarded prospects in Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine on the way, but both are still a year or two away from being NHL-ready. This makes a stopgap option like Demko appealing. Detroit has Petr Mrazek and Cam Talbot under contract for next season, but both are better suited as backups. Either could be moved to make room for Demko to take on the starting role.
Detroit did trade for Mrazek at the deadline, and general manager Steve Yzerman explained that Mrazek’s contract for another year was an attractive factor, given the limited availability of goalies this summer. “It’s a strange time in the NHL for goaltenders,” Yzerman said. “The people who worked with Petr early in his career support him as a person and his competitiveness. Goaltending stats are all over the place across the league. What made Mrazek attractive is that he’s signed for another year, and given the current goalie market and what we might face in the offseason, we thought it was a good insurance move.”
Frederik Andersen is expected to be the top goaltender available in free agency.
Canucks Believe They Can Retain Demko
Despite Thatcher Demko’s injury struggles this season, the Vancouver Canucks have been able to rely on Kevin Lankinen, who performed well enough to earn a new contract.
While Lankinen is being paid like a starting goalie, Vancouver GM Patrick Allvin is confident that the team has enough cap space to keep both goaltenders for next season.
“I do think there’s room,” Allvin told The Athletic. “Again, I have a lot of respect for Thatcher, and he’s got another year on his contract. If you look at what other teams are spending on goalies, I still think there’s a good chance for us to keep both of them.”
Currently, the Canucks hold a record of 32-25-12 and are on the outside looking in for the playoffs.
