(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Detroit Red Wings will get a much-needed ten-day furlough for the All-Star break. This break will give Steve Yzerman plenty of time to reflect on the first half of the season and examine what is next for the organization as we head into the year’s second half.
All signs are beginning to point toward the Detroit Red Wings being sellers ahead of the March 3rd NHL Trade Deadline.
The Red Wings entered the All-Star break with a record of 21-19-8, which is good for 50 points. That leaves Detroit seven points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The other issue, Detroit currently has four teams in between them, and the Penguins (Buffalo, New York Islanders, Florida, and Philadelphia) are all vying for that final spot.
Year after year, Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi has found himself at the center of trade talks, but nothing has ever materialized. With the 27-year-old set to become a free agent and contract talks seemingly stalled in recent days, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is reporting that three teams have been linked to Bertuzzi in trade talks.
Bertuzzi is coming off a 30-goal, 62-point season but has suffered an abundance of injuries this year which has hindered his productivity and perhaps hurt his overall trade value. The gritty winger has broken both hands this season and most recently suffered a lower-body injury. Bertuzzi has appeared in 17 games this season for the Red Wings scoring just one goal and totaling five points while averaging 16 minutes of ice time per game.
The Dallas Stars are linked to Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi.
Pagnotta recently mentioned that the Stars would add ahead of the deadline if the right fit is found. Tyler Bertuzzi can play either wing and up and down any line. His expiring contract, which averages $4.75 million, makes him an affordable rental candidate, especially if he can remain healthy during the second half of the season. At this point, getting an extension done with captain Dylan Larkin should be Yzerman’s top priority.
Stars general manager Jim Nill is very familiar with Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings, having come from Detroit’s organization, where he served as Ken Holland’s right-hand-man for years.
“We go through our team first. What’s our needs, what’s our weaknesses, what’s our strengths; what do we have for assets if we’re going to do something,” Nill said. “And then we go through the whole league.”
“The league’s never been better. The parity has never been tighter. I think it’s going to go down to the wire,” Nill said
“Leaguewide, it’s going to be interesting to see where this all goes. I’ve never seen the league so tight. Then you add in the cap, you add in the assets to get players. Who’s selling, who’s not. We hear out there that there’s some pretty marquee players available. How are they going to move? It’s going to be an interesting dynamic.”
Pagnotta mentioned that Patrick Kane could be the top target for Dallas, but the star winger possesses a no-movement clause that he’d need to waive before being traded. If nothing materializes for Kane, a lesser deal for Bertuzzi may be the route Nill goes as he tries to bolster his middle-six forwards.