Red Wings Eye Trades to Bolster Roster After Missing Playoffs

Detroit looks to shake up roster with potential deals for Blues' Robert Thomas and Canucks' Elias Pettersson

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:48am

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in red, white, and blue, conceptually representing the fractured state of the Detroit Red Wings' hockey team and the need for major roster changes.A fragmented, cubist illustration captures the Red Wings' struggles and the need for major roster changes this offseason.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings failed to make the 2026 NHL playoffs, leading general manager Steve Yzerman to explore trade options to improve the team this offseason. Two potential targets are center Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues and center Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, both of whom could provide a boost to Detroit's offense.

Why it matters

The Red Wings have collapsed in three straight seasons, including this year when they were first in the Eastern Conference in January before falling out of playoff contention. Yzerman will need to be aggressive in the trade market to find impact players and get the Red Wings back into the postseason.

The details

The Red Wings do not have a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft after trading it to the Blues in the Justin Faulk deal. This puts more pressure on Yzerman to find talent through trades, with the thin free agent market providing few impact options. Thomas, an 80+ point center, and Pettersson, a former 100-point player, are two high-profile names that could be available and fit Detroit's needs.

  • The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • The Red Wings have one game remaining on the 2025-26 schedule after their loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, April 14, 2026.

The players

Steve Yzerman

The general manager of the Detroit Red Wings who will be tasked with improving the roster this offseason after the team missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Robert Thomas

A center for the St. Louis Blues who was an in-demand trade target at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. Thomas is an 80+ point scorer who could provide a major boost to Detroit's offense.

Elias Pettersson

A center for the Vancouver Canucks who was once a 100-point player but has seen his production decline in recent years, leading to trade rumors surrounding the $11.6 million cap hit.

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What’s next

The Red Wings will look to be active in the trade market this offseason as they aim to bounce back from missing the playoffs for the third straight season. Yzerman has shown a willingness to make big moves, and he'll need to do so again to find the right pieces to get Detroit back into contention.

The takeaway

After three straight seasons of collapse, the Red Wings face a critical offseason where they must find ways to upgrade their roster through trades. With a thin free agent market, Yzerman will need to be aggressive in pursuing impact players like Robert Thomas and Elias Pettersson to get Detroit back into the playoffs.