Detroit Red Wings' Top Trade Candidate This Season

The Detroit Red Wings have fallen after their stronger start to the season and are now in a position to sell at the trade deadline. They have two high-end forward options and there isn't a lot of confidence in bringing both back. Dylan Larkin, the captain, is without a contract yet and will be looking for a pay raise and a long-term contract, but he is still less likely to be on the move than Tyler Bertuzzi.

Larkin is a more reliable option and a number on center. He would fetch more for the Red Wings, but would also set them back a bit longer before they are ready to compete. The two sides may not be close to a deal, but something is more likely to get done.

Bertuzzi on the other hand hasn't impressed general manager Steve Yzerman much, starting with his refusal to get vaccinated to limit travel to Canada and play games over the last couple of seasons. As a first line winger, that was a big loss regularly since there are three Canadian teams in their division. The other thing working against Bertuzzi and the Red Wings reaching a new contract is his health. He has never stayed healthy for an entire season and has suited up for just 93 games over the past three seasons. Some of that is missing games due to restrictions, but most of it is health-related.

He scored 30 goals and 62 points in 68 games last season, but has struggled to get on the scoresheet since returning from injury this season. He has just one goal and five points in 16 games and some of the players who have earned opportunities in his absence have stepped up. The future likely lies in them and Bertuzzi could be a second tier scoring option for a contender at the deadline if they want a combination of feistiness and scoring and miss out on names like Timo Meier and Vladimir Tarasenko. Watch for Bertuzzi to be headed out of Detroit at the deadline as their top trade candidate.