The Detroit Red Wings are aiming to break their playoff slump, and one trade proposal involves acquiring a great forward.
PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool allows users to make their own transactions. One user requested that the Red Wings purchase Pavel Buchnevich from the St. Louis Blues.
The suggested deal would be a blockbuster, with Detroit trading an NHL player, a first-round pick, and two seconds for star forward Buchnevich. Detroit increases scoring, but the Blues get younger and add assets to their prospective rebuild.
Buchnevich is entering the final year of his four-year $23.2 million contract, but he has already inked a six-year $42 million extension that begins with the 2025-26 NHL season. So, Detroit would receive Buchnevich for seven seasons, which explains why the price is so high.
Buchnevich could be a top-six forward for Detroit, adding extra scoring to the team. Last season, Buchnevich scored 27 goals and 36 assists for 63 points in 80 games. In 517 NHL games, he’s scored 162 goals and 239 assists for 401 points.
Along with the draft picks, Detroit parted ways with Berggren, a 24-year-old forward. Berggren can be a bottom-six forward for the Blues, playing a larger role than he has in Detroit. The Swede was taken in the second round of the 2018 NHL draft, and he appeared in 12 games last season, scoring two goals and four assists for six points.
Red Wings acquire:
- Pavel Buchnevich
Blues acquire:
- Jonatan Berggren
- 2025 first-round pick
- 2025 second-round pick
- 2026 second-round pick
Red Wings Sign Berggren to Extension
The Detroit Red Wings signed Jonatan Berggren, a restricted free agent, to a one-year, $825,000 contract on September 16. General manager Steve Yzerman said it was one of the last items on his offseason to-do list and expressed relief that the deal was finalized, even though it’s just for one year.
“Given the current salary cap situation, we likely weren’t in a position to offer a two-year deal at this time,” Yzerman explained on September 17. “Both sides are comfortable with a one-year contract. If Jonatan has a strong season, he’ll be in a great spot to renegotiate next year.”
Despite the short-term contract, Yzerman believes Berggren can make a significant impact this season.
“He’s very talented,” Yzerman added. “We were pleased with his performance late in the season. It was a challenging year for him with some ups and downs, but every time he went back to Grand Rapids, he worked hard. Seeing him now in preseason, he’s clearly put in the work this summer. He’s in good shape, he’s smart, and he’s skilled. He’s shown in his call-ups that he has the ability and hockey sense to play at the NHL level. He’s been patient and worked hard, and he’ll have a great opportunity this year.”
The Red Wings will begin their 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Analyst Praises Buchnevich’s Contract
Buchnevich agreed to a six-year, $48 million contract extension with the St. Louis Blues on July 2.
NHL expert Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic thinks the Blues did well with the contract.
“This is an excellent contract for the Blues, who limited Buchnevich’s term to six years rather than the maximum of eight, ensuring that he will retire in his mid-30s. The AAV is also reasonable for a guy who has averaged nearly a point per game (0.96) over his three seasons in St. Louis,” Rutherford said.
Buchnevich has been with the Blues since his trade from the New York Rangers in July 2021.
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