2021 Deadline Part 1: Hope These Trades Don't Burns Me

March 21, 2021

In the days leading up to the 2021 trade deadline GM Evans and the Red Wings front office were frustrated. When reached for comment GM Evans was quoted as saying: "I think anyone looking at this roster would be confused by the win-loss record. They just don't line up. This is a team built to contend with the top teams in the league, with a mix of prime-aged players, youth, and veterans. A team led by Connor McDavid, Sean Couturier, Brent Burns, Robin Lehner, and co should not be fighting for their playoff lives." With comments like these, it was no surprise to some significant moves happen.

Several challenges facing the organization this offseason were sure to impact their deadline day planning: the pending UFA situation, the coming cap crunch, and the looming expansion draft. The Red Wings had Brent Burns, Sean Couturier, Ian Cole, Travis Zajac, and Mikko Koivu as pending UFA's, and Tomas Hertl, Hampus Lindholm, Neal Pionk, Thomas Chabot, and Luke Kunin all due for new contracts this summer. 

The first domino to fall was Robin Lehner. Lehner had a sensational 2019-20 MRFHL season and carried the Red Wings back to the playoffs for the first time in the GM Evans era... but laid an egg in the playoffs with an 0.891 save % despite facing only 26 shots per game behind a solid Red Wings defense corps. Lehner's 2020-21 season had not been nearly as strong, and he struggled along to a 0.904 save % in 57 games. With Carter Hart waiting in the wings and putting up similar numbers, GM Evans had to consider the possibility of handing the reigns over to the youngster. A few options were considered but ultimately the first offer turned out to be the best, and Robin Lehner was sent packing to the New York Islanders in exchange for Brock Nelson.

GM Evans: "It only made sense to deal Robin if we were able to add either an impact roster player or a top prospect to our organization. Fortunately, we were able to find the right deal. Brock checked a lot of boxes for us: He's a strong 2-way player that can play either C or LW, he can slide up and down the lineup, he can fit on both special teams, and he's on a great contract for next season. This is a player that changes the complexion of our whole forward group and opens up a lot of new line combinations."

Next up, Luke Kunin was shipped out for veteran bottom 6 forwards Colton Sissons, Tyler Pitlick, and young NHLer Sammy Blais. Kunin was having a decent season with the Red Wings but was blocked by better players. He was mostly relegated to a 4^th line duty and when he was given PK time the unit struggled. He was due for a new contract in the summer and likely would have been lost to expansion if he wasn’t moved, so it was no shock to see his name in rumours and see him eventually moved to New Jersey for more depth.

Like Lehner, Brent Burns was another player that had struggled mightily in the Wings' 6 game playoff loss and was following that up with an unspectacular 20-21. He had been on the ice for 9 even-strength goals against in the 6-game series after a strong showing in the 19-20 regular season and had put up 2 goals and 31 points in 64 games this season. The front office was faced with a tough choice on their captain going into the deadline; Burns was a pending UFA and with Sean Couturier on the team he was unlikely to be re-signed until he hit the open market, but he was an important piece of the team. In the end, GM Evans made the tough call to ship out his best defenseman ahead of the trade deadline for the 2^nd straight season. Fans in the Motor City sure hope it works out better than last year’s Drew Doughty trade. Burns was sent to St Louis in exchange for depth defenseman Mirco Mueller, prospects Boris Katchouk and Justus Annunen, and a 2021 6^th round pick.

GM Evans: “Maybe I’m crazy for doing the same thing twice, but I believe Brent was too valuable to let walk and this was a tempting return. It was a tough move to make, but we have enough talent to replace Brent’s production; We need guys like Hampus Lindholm, Thomas Chabot, and Neal Pionk to step up now and I believe they can do it. Mueller can fill a #5/6/7 defenseman role for us down the stretch, Katchouk looks like a strong bottom 6 option with some scoring touch, Annunen has enough talent to make an impact one day, and my scouts always like to have late round picks. If Brent makes it to UFA we will certainly be in touch.”

Lastly, the day before deadline day, Patrick Marleau was acquired for depth prospect Kaspar Kotkansalo to add some veteran leadership, Kyle Clifford was claimed off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes to serve as a depth forward, and Collin Delia was lost on waivers to the Lightning after the Wings were unable to find a trade partner.

All in all there were more subtractions than additions leading up to the deadline, but the Wings had added a few interesting trade chips and depth roster pieces, and had set the stage for a busy deadline day.

To be continued in part 2…

-Detroit Free Press

Dylan Wilson

pretty scary thumbnail

2021 Deadline Part 1: Hope These Trades Don't Burns Me
Red Wings ship out Burns, Lehner, Kunin, Johansson; Add Nelson, Mrazek, and rentals

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Martin Grech I really overpaid for silfverberg

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