The Detroit Red Wings are aiming to end their playoff drought and a trade proposal suggests acquiring a gritty defenseman.
The website PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool allows users to create their own trades. One user suggested a deal that would have the Red Wings acquiring Erik Gudbranson from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Red Wings acquire:
- Erik Gudbranson
Blue Jackets acquire:
- Justin Holl
- Antti Tuomisto
- 2025 second-round pick
This proposed deal is intriguing as it would allow Detroit to get out of Holl’s contract while also adding a veteran defenseman to bolster their chances of winning now.
Gudbranson is currently in the third year of his four-year, $ 16 million deal with the Blue Jackets. He would bring physicality to the Red Wings’ blue line and help shut down opposing teams’ top lines. In his NHL career, Gudbranson has played 792 games, recording 34 goals and 99 assists for 133 points.
The biggest component of the return would be the second-round pick. However, Detroit would also be parting with Holl, who is in the second year of his three-year, $ 10.2 million deal. Holl has struggled in Detroit and was a potential buyout candidate this offseason, but he could replace Gudbranson on the blue line.
Tuomisto, selected 35th overall in the 2019 NHL draft, is currently playing in the AHL but has not yet reached the NHL level that Detroit hoped for.
Gudbranson is recovering from shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely, meaning this move would be aimed at bolstering the team later in the season for a possible playoff run.
Gudbranson was injured on October 15 and underwent shoulder surgery on October 21. General Manager Don Waddell stated, “Erik had successful shoulder surgery on Monday and is expected to make a full recovery. While he will miss a significant amount of time, we know he will work extremely hard during his rehab and will continue to be an important part of our leadership group.”
Although Gudbranson is expected to miss considerable time, he would likely slot into the Red Wings’ third pairing upon his return, adding leadership to the team.
Holl is viewed as a buyout candidate. He signed a three-year deal with Detroit but struggled in his first season, failing to make the team out of training camp and being placed on waivers. Although he has since been called up, he remains a potential buyout option in the 2025 offseason.
NHL insider Max Bultman of The Athletic speculated that Detroit may move on from Holl next offseason, noting, “They likely didn’t want to be on the hook for four years of dead cap that would have come with a buyout. It wasn’t a massive number ( $ 1.13 million each year), but four years is a long time to pay dead cap.”
Bult man added, “If Holl doesn’t play much and becomes a 3.4millionscratch for most of the season, I’d imagine they’ll explore a buy out next year
So far this season, Holl has participated in 8 games, recording 1 assist.
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