Red Wings’ Jake Walman Trade Could Point to Possible Steven Stamkos Signing – Hockey Writers – Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings made headlines recently when they decided to trade Jake Walman and a second-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks for future consideration. It was shocking, to say the least, as Walman is a solid defender who I believed had a good contract. Paying a high price for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to move someone like him seems mind-boggling, but it could mean a few different things for both teams. The Sharks are trying to fill out their roster to surround first baseman Macklin Celebrini with players who can help him succeed at the NHL level, while the Red Wings are trying to clear space in hopes of improving their lineup and rebounding. in the postseason. They were close this season, but couldn’t sneak away. With a move like this, it is clear that they are determined to change.

The Red Wings have a lot of moving parts this offseason and have plenty of money to make some interesting moves if they choose when free agency opens. With Patrick Kane in need of a new contract and potentially headed to the open market if he can’t reach an agreement with the Red Wings before July 1, there are other options the team could pursue, one of which is star forward Steven Stamkos. He hasn’t reached an agreement with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a new contract extension yet, and time is running out for him to act before he has a chance to talk to other teams. The Red Wings have more than enough money to entice Stamkos to move, and the Walman deal makes it even more possible.

General manager Steve Yzerman already has connections to Stamkos as the Lightning’s previous GM, so there’s some comfort there. The only problem would be if Stamkos is loyal to the Nyazi and is willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team that signed him. If there’s any sign that Stamkos and the Lightning can’t do something, Yzerman should look to come in full force to bring him in. His leadership off the ice combined with his offensive production will make him one of the most sought after. free agents in recent history.

Stamkos Signing Happening, Are There Other Options?

The Red Wings going after Stamkos makes sense for several different reasons, but there are other options available to them if they can’t make something work. Jake Guentzel, Chris Tanev, Sam Reinhart, Elias Lindholm, and Kane could all be there and could consider joining the Red Wings if they all hit the open market. With the amount of money the Red Wings have heading into July 1, it wouldn’t be surprising if they made some major changes and were able to consolidate their roster heading into the 2024-25 season. While plenty of options are available either way, Stamkos should be his main focus, and he should be willing to break the bank to land him.

Stamkos is a hockey legend and will likely go down as one of the best players to ever play the game. However, the Red Wings are in a position where they are trying to get back to the postseason and fight back to the playoffs. They have a strong future ahead of them, and adding Stamkos would be another piece of the puzzle. Stamkos is likely to get a three- or four-year contract, but the Red Wings must be willing to pay more to bring him over. He fits their scheme well, will fit into their current context and can be a force on both ends of the ice. In fact, I would offer up to $8 million per season to sign him. He’s still a point-per-game player, a good player on special teams, and a strong defensive player. The Red Wings should be trying to land Stamkos, any way possible.