The Detroit Red Wings are considering a major roster shake-up after missing the playoffs for ten consecutive seasons, with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs being a potential trade target. There are also two alternative options being discussed for the team's offseason strategy.
Red Wings urged to go 'all-in' for Auston Matthews trade with Maple Leafs — but with 2 alternatives originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Red Wings have to do something.
It's now been a decade, 10 consecutive seasons, of missing the playoffs.
They're looking at an offseason that could involve big decisions, including potential shake-ups across the roster.
And one player who maybe could be available is Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. It's not a given that Matthews will get moved, but it's possible.
MLive's Ansar Khan, who covers the Red Wings, believes Detroit should go for Matthews if he ends up on the block.
"If Toronto looks to move superstar Auston Matthews, the Red Wings should be all-in, though it seems doubtful the Maple Leafs would trade him within the division," Khan writes.
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Matthews hasn't been able to win it all in Toronto, but he remains one of the NHL's best players and is under contract for two more seasons. He captained the United States to a gold medal at the Olympics in February, too.
Even if the Red Wings can't get Matthews, Khan adds, they shouldn't give up.
He references Vancouver's Elias Pettersson and St. Louis' Robert Thomas as possible alternatives.
"The Red Wings have good forwards in Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, but lack an elite-level scorer," Khan writes. "They’re obviously difficult to acquire, especially in a free-agent market that continues to weaken by the year. They’ll need to be aggressive in the trade market this offseason, perhaps making a serious pitch for the likes of someone like Robert Thomas (St. Louis) or Elias Pettersson (Vancouver).”
Thomas and Pettersson both have their warts, and neither is up to Matthews' level, but both could be key pickups for the Red Wings.
It's definitely safe to expect a busy offseason for Detroit. It'll just be a matter of what direction they end up going in.
The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for ten straight seasons and are looking to make significant changes to improve their roster.
The article mentions that there are two alternative options being considered for the Red Wings' offseason strategy, though specific details are not provided.
While it's not guaranteed that Matthews will be traded, there is a possibility that he could be available in the offseason.
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