Detroit Red Wings

NHL Trade Talk Recap: Red Wings, Oilers, Canucks, Jets, Flyers

NHL Trade Talk Recap Dec. 27: Red Wings talk rebuild, Oilers narrowing trade focus, Canucks would push for Borgen, Flyers and Jets a fit?

by
Jim Parsons
December 27, 2024

In another NHL Trade Talk Recap (Dec. 27), Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman addressed the coaching change and didn’t love the insinuation that his rebuild plan was not going well. He flipped the script and challenged the media to come up with better ideas. Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston offered up more matchmaker predictions ahead of the trade deadline. They linked the Flyers and Jets, and Canucks with the New York Rangers. Finally, the Edmonton Oilers are starting to narrow down their focus as they take note of what holes they need to fill. But can they add, considering they have a surplus in a certain area?

Top NHL Trade Talk Recap Story

Yzerman’s Plan for Red Wings Questioned

Steve Yzerman spoke with the media on Friday and offered details behind his decision to hire Todd McLellan as the new head coach. McLellan’s debut didn’t go well as the Maple Leafs beat the Red Wings 5-2 on Friday. Mitch Marner scored a hat trick for the Leafs, which was notable with Auston Matthews still out of the lineup.

Yzerman also didn’t love that his rebuild plan for the Red Wings was being questioned.

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Oilers Narrowing Focus on Certain Trade Targets

Allan Mitchell of The Athletic took a look at the Edmonton Oilers trade plans and pondered what GM Stan Bowman might do. Bowman said, “We’ll probably start to narrow that focus maybe around Christmas. From Games 40 to 50 is when we’re going to try to really decide which type of player would be the best one to add. If we can add a defenceman, we’d like to.”

Mitchell says defense is a priority, and a depth goaltender might be an option. Who does the scribe think is on Bowman’s shortlist?

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Would the Flyers and Jets Make Good Trade Partners?

Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston were back at it on Friday with part two of their matchmaker series. In this round they discussed Rasmus Ristolainen and what teams might show interest. The Winnipeg Jets were named as a team that could use his size and might be open to taking a swing on the blueliner, considering his rebound season.

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Might the Canucks Outbid Teams for Will Borgen?

It’s not clear the New York Rangers will be sellers, but if they are, it’s possible Will Borgen attracts a lot of attention. And, if Borgen is made available, Chris Johnston of The Athletic thinks that Vancouver’s front office would aggressively someone with Borgen’s skill set. Johnston writes, “Borgen will have plenty of suitors ahead of the deadline, but there may not be anyone more motivated to pursue him than Vancouver.”