Red Wings Bolster Playoff Hopes with Trade Acquisitions

Adding Peron, Faulk 'a great sign' with Detroit seeking to end 9-season drought

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Detroit Red Wings have made a pair of key trade deadline acquisitions, adding defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues and forward David Perron from the Ottawa Senators. The moves come as the Red Wings look to end their 9-season playoff drought, but the team also suffered a setback with captain Dylan Larkin sustaining a lower-body injury. While Faulk is set to make his Red Wings debut, Perron will be out for about two weeks as he recovers from a sports hernia surgery.

Why it matters

The Red Wings are in a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference, currently holding the first wild card spot. Adding veteran players like Faulk and Perron is a sign the team is serious about ending its lengthy postseason drought. However, the loss of Larkin, their captain and leading scorer, is a major blow that could derail their playoff push if he's out for an extended period.

The details

The Red Wings acquired Faulk from the Blues in exchange for a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and defenseman Justin Holl. Perron was acquired from the Senators for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2026. Faulk is signed through next season, while Perron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Red Wings lost to the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Friday, shortly after Larkin suffered his lower-body injury.

  • The NHL Trade Deadline was on Friday, March 8, 2026.
  • Faulk is scheduled to make his Red Wings debut on Sunday, March 10, 2026 against the New Jersey Devils.
  • Perron will be out for about two weeks as he continues to recover from sports hernia surgery.

The players

Justin Faulk

A defenseman acquired by the Red Wings from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a first-round pick, a third-round pick, and defenseman Justin Holl.

David Perron

A forward acquired by the Red Wings from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2026.

Dylan Larkin

The captain of the Red Wings who suffered a lower-body injury in the team's 3-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday.

Todd McLellan

The head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.

Ben Chiarot

A defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a place here where they've really been trying to gather prospects, gather picks. And now to see it going the other way, picks going out the door, and good players coming in the door, it's a great sign for what we've have accomplished so far, and [we] need to pick it up and have better efforts than we did tonight.”

— Ben Chiarot, Defenseman (NHL.com)

“No, there's no silver lining. He's our captain. He's played extremely well, and any way shape or form that we can have him in the lineup is a good thing for our team. So, there's no silver lining in rest or anything like that, and he'd probably scoff at the suggestion of that, because he's a competitor and wants to be in there with his teammates.”

— Todd McLellan, Head Coach (NHL.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.