Rumor: Detroit and Tampa Bay Closing in on a Trade

The Detroit Red Wings are coming off a dismal season which saw them hammered with some horrible luck as they dropped three spots in the NHL Draft lottery, even though they were by-far the worst team in the league last season.

The Wings made some moves this offseason as Steve Yzerman and company tried to surround the young core with some capable talent. The Wings brought in the likes of Bobby Ryan, Marc Staal, Troy Stecher, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jon Merrill, and Thomas Griess, which should help them improve on their 17 wins from last season. Sounds like more moves are coming.

#tblightning GM Julien BriseBois knows he has to move some players to create cap space for his remaining RFAs, and is confident he can do so. ICYMI @m_bultman and I examined why the Red Wings could be a good fit to be a trade partner with Tampa Bay https://t.co/eL9fP9SsAy pic.twitter.com/aHDhT8R7Hm

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) December 2, 2020

With @JoeSmithTB: Can the Lightning and Red Wings make a trade to solve Tampa Bay’s cap woes? https://t.co/CyCfPbAMmA

— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) December 1, 2020

According to multiple reports, the Wings and the Tampa Bay Lightning appear to be linked to a massive trade that would see Tyler Johnson, Alex Killorn and a first-round pick sent to the Red Wings for basically nothing. The move would strictly be a salary cap dump for the Lightning, who would have to pay a sweetener of at least one first-round pick and perhaps a solid young player. 

The Wings have $9 million in cap space and it will be up to Yzerman if he wants to help out his old colleagues. The Lightning still need to sign two restricted free agents in Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak and must clear some cap space to make it happen.

Keep an eye on these two teams, looks like it's a match in salary cap clearing heaven. 

Photo credit:  Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire