Red Wings Urged to Pursue Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews in Trade

Detroit has missed the playoffs for 10 straight seasons and needs to make a big move this offseason.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a hockey game, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, white, blue, and gold representing the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs colors.The Red Wings' pursuit of Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews could reshape the NHL's Eastern Conference landscape.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings have been urged by hockey analysts to pursue a trade for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, one of the NHL's elite players, in an effort to end their 10-year playoff drought. While Matthews may be a long shot to be traded within the division, the Red Wings are also being advised to explore alternative trade options for top-tier centers like Vancouver's Elias Pettersson or St. Louis' Robert Thomas.

Why it matters

The Red Wings have struggled mightily over the past decade, failing to make the playoffs since the 2015-16 season. Acquiring a superstar like Matthews or another top-line center could be a franchise-altering move that helps Detroit return to playoff contention and compete with the top teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

The details

According to MLive's Ansar Khan, the Red Wings should be "all-in" on trying to trade for Matthews if the Maple Leafs make him available, though Khan acknowledges it seems unlikely Toronto would trade their captain within the same division. Matthews, 24, is under contract for two more seasons and is coming off a gold medal-winning performance as captain of the U.S. Olympic hockey team. If the Red Wings can't land Matthews, Khan suggests they should pursue trades for Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks or Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues as alternative options to bolster their top-six forward group.

  • The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, dating back to the 2015-16 campaign.
  • Matthews led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

The players

Auston Matthews

The 24-year-old captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matthews is considered one of the NHL's elite players and could be a potential trade target for the Red Wings this offseason.

Elias Pettersson

The 23-year-old center for the Vancouver Canucks is viewed as a potential trade target for the Red Wings if they are unable to acquire Matthews.

Robert Thomas

The 22-year-old center for the St. Louis Blues is another player the Red Wings could target in a trade this offseason to bolster their top-six forward group.

Dylan Larkin

The 25-year-old center is one of the Red Wings' top forwards, but the team still lacks an "elite-level scorer" according to the report.

Lucas Raymond

The 20-year-old winger is another promising young forward for the Red Wings, but the team is still seeking a true superstar to lead them back to the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Ansar Khan, MLive Red Wings beat writer

“The Red Wings have good forwards in Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat, but lack an elite-level scorer. 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).”

— Ansar Khan, MLive Red Wings beat writer

What’s next

The Red Wings will need to determine if they have the assets and willingness to trade for a superstar like Auston Matthews, Elias Pettersson, or Robert Thomas this offseason in order to end their 10-year playoff drought.

The takeaway

The Red Wings' prolonged struggles have reached a point where the team must be aggressive in pursuing a blockbuster trade for an elite-level center this offseason. While landing Matthews may be a long shot, Detroit has been advised to explore alternative options like Pettersson or Thomas in order to finally return to the playoffs and compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.