The Red Wings traded Ville Husso on Monday and it means general manager Steve Yzerman might be gearing up for a big move.
If you’ve been paying attention, trading Ville Husso has created some cap space for the Red Wings, which could signal a potential blockbuster deal in the works for Steve Yzerman and his team. I know there are mixed opinions among fans about a big trade, but personally, I’m all for it—at least for now.
Why? As Todd McLellan showed, the Red Wings are simply too good to let another trade deadline pass without making any moves. Last season, we saw what happened when they stood still, and the results weren’t great.
This time around, I don’t think Yzerman will make that mistake again. Expect him to go after a significant name at the deadline, and don’t be surprised if Mikko Rantanen ends up on the radar.
Red Wings Preparing for a Big Deadline Trade
While it’s unlikely the Hurricanes will trade Mikko Rantanen right now, it’s becoming evident that he and the team aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on a contract extension. This opens the door for Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings, who currently have $13.65 million in cap space heading into the deadline.
At this point, Rantanen would be a great fit, and the Red Wings can definitely afford him. If Rantanen and the Hurricanes don’t reach a deal by March 1st, or at the latest March 3rd, expect trade rumors to pick up, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wings are mentioned.
Of course, this is all assuming no trade happens before then. So, as you’ve probably gathered, a lot needs to fall into place for this to happen, but it’s no longer a long shot—conventional wisdom suggests it’s a real possibility.
Mikko Rantanen’s High Price Despite Recent Struggles
Rantanen has played seven games with the Hurricanes so far, scoring one goal and three points. This comes after a 64-point, 25-goal performance earlier this season with the Colorado Avalanche, raising red flags about his fit in Raleigh, and he might sense that as well.
It wouldn’t shock me if Rantanen continues to turn down offers from the Hurricanes, no matter how lucrative they are. If he somehow ends up with the Red Wings, I’m not suggesting he’d be more than a rental, but pairing him with players like Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Lucas Raymond would give the Wings one of the top forward groups in the league heading into the playoffs.
However, I believe Yzerman would only pursue this trade if he saw Rantanen as a long-term asset. For a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in a while, trading away significant assets and current talent for a rental wouldn’t make much sense. Still, you can’t rule anything out at this stage.
