Heavy.com proposed a deal that would see the Seattle Kraken deal Jamie Oleksiak to the Red Wings in exchange for a young prospect:
Red Wings acquire:
- Jamie Oleksiak
Kraken acquire:
- Shai Buium
This proposed trade solves Detroit’s need for a top-four defenseman and the Kraken’s need for young prospects.
Standing at 6 foot 7 inches, Jamie Oleksiak is entering the last year of his contract at $4.6M per year. Oleksiak is a powerful, physical defenseman that fits the Steve Yzerman mold of imposing defenders. Last season, Oleksiak, 32, scored 17 points in 82 games while leading the Kraken in blocked shots.
The Kraken, in return, would receive Shai Buium, a 22-year-old left-shot defenseman. The Red Wings selected Buium with the 36th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Buium, a promising defenseman, spent the 2024-25 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring 25 points in 67 games.
Kraken general manager Jason Botterill emphasized the importance of bringing in young talent. This move would bolster their prospect pool while allowing the Red Wings to secure some additional help on the blue line.
Red Wings Hunting for Playoff Spot
The Red Wings currently have the second-longest playoff drought in the NHL behind the Buffalo Sabres. During the team’s post-free agency press conference, general manager Steve Yzerman mentioned the need for a top-four defenseman. “We have plenty of cap space to do a lot of different things,” Yzerman said. “The most important thing is to find players that fit. What we could use right now is a defenseman, a top four…But it doesn’t have to be a right shot because we can move these guys around a little bit, but that would be our biggest potential need.”
Oleksiak is a left shot defenseman. The other left shot defensemen on the roster include Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot, Erik Gustafsson and Albert Johansson. Should he find his way onto Detroit’s roster, Oleksiak would find his home on the second defensive pairing alongside either Jacob Bernard-Docker or another solution from within.
Oleksiak Could Pair with Young Defenseman
In addition to his comments about a top-four defenseman, Yzerman made it clear that a spot on the roster is up for grabs. “I don’t want to rule out anybody coming in, having a really strong preseason and forcing us to take a longer look to see how they start at the regular season,” Yzerman said. “That’s a possibility for several players.”
Axel Sandin-Pellikka, taken 17th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, looks poised to make a run for a roster spot. Should he secure his NHL role – and should Oleksiak join the Red Wings – the duo would more than likely anchor the second pairing, complementing their respective defensive styles. Where Oleksiak plays more of a physical game, Sandin-Pellikka’s offensive edge could create a deadly defensive duo.
As of right now, the Red Wings are running with a defensive group of Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, Ben Chiarot, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Erik Gustafsson and Justin Holl. The addition of Oleksiak would stabilize Detroit’s defensive depth at an affordable price.
No Comment! Be the first one.