The Detroit Red Wings are seeking to complete their reconstruction and become playoff contenders, and one trade proposal supports their cause.
PuckPedia’s new tool, PuckGM, allows users to design their own deals, and one user offered a deal that would see the Red Wings acquire Mike Matheson from the Montreal Canadiens.
Red Wings acquire:
Mike Matheson
Canadiens acquire:
2025 third-round pick
2026 fifth-round pick
The trade proposal is intriguing, as Detroit would improve their defense by obtaining Matheson, who is in his sixth year of an eight-year $39 million contract. Matheson has spent the last two years with Montreal, and he is expected to be Detroit’s second-line left defenceman.
Matheson would also provide additional seasoned experience to the blue line. Matheson played 82 games last season, scoring 11 goals and 51 assists for a total of 62 points.
The Canadiens would release Matheson from his contract and replace him with a younger defenceman. Montreal has first-round picks Logan Mailloux and David Reindbacher competing for a spot on the roster, so trading Matheson allows the organization to get younger while receiving draft picks in exchange.
Canadiens May Send Lane Hutson to AHL
Lane Hutson may play in the AHL this season due to Montreal’s abundance of young defensemen under contract.
On August 27, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes appeared on BPM Sports and intimated that Huston would spend time in the AHL.
“I do not want to hide Lane Hutson. We want Lane Hutson to develop into the best defenseman he can be. If he has to enhance his game and is better suited to the AHL, we’ll send him to Laval,” Hughes remarked in French (translated by DailyHive). “We won’t keep him in the NHL just to turn him into a power play specialist.”
Hutson was selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. He turned pro after Boston University was eliminated from the Frozen Four, and he appeared in two NHL games, earning no goals and two assists.
Red Wings Have 2 Star Players Unsigned
Detroit has yet to sign restricted free agents (RFAs) forward Lucas Raymond and defenseman Moritz Seider, two of the team’s top players. Despite the ongoing contract negotiations, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde remains unconcerned.
“I’m not worried,” Lalonde told The Detroit Free Press. “It’s all part of the process. I’ve had some experience with RFAs before. This is just how it goes.”
Lalonde mentioned that he’s been in touch with both players multiple times over the summer, but their discussions haven’t focused on the contracts. “That’s between Steve and them,” Lalonde added, referring to General Manager Steve Yzerman. “For us, the focus is on progress, on continuing to build. Those two guys are obviously key parts of that.”
Last season, Raymond played in 82 games, tallying 31 goals and 41 assists for 72 points, while Seider also appeared in 82 games, contributing 9 goals and 33 assists for 42 points. Both were top-10 draft picks by Detroit.
Even though Raymond and Seider remain unsigned, Lalonde anticipates they will take on leadership roles for the Red Wings. “Their roles on our team will likely expand, including in leadership,” Lalonde said. “That’s something we discussed with them over the summer.”
The Red Wings are set to begin the 2024-25 NHL season at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10.
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