Red Wings Exploring Trades for Two Veterans Amid Roster Concerns

“They signed a lot of defensemen this past summer for some reason,” Pagnotta said. “This is a team that’s been looking for added offense. We know this is a club that’s looking at the center position as well.

“There is some talk that the Wings are looking at and open to moving some of their defensemen, and I think there’s mutual interest there from the player side of things.”

Pagnotta identified Gustafsson and Hamonic as likely candidates to be moved, describing them as “veteran pieces” squeezed out of the lineup.

“It doesn’t look like there’s much room for some of these guys,” Pagnotta said. “Don’t be surprised to hear guys like Hamonic and Gustafsson’s name out there, especially in the next little bit.”

In terms of possible sutiors, Pagnotta suggested that up-and-coming franchises such as the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, or San Jose Sharks as potential landing spots for any of the blueliners.

Hamonic, 35, joined Detroit on a one-year, $1 million deal after a 59-game stint with Ottawa last season. Gustafsson, 33, signed a two-year contract worth $2 million and was assigned to the AHL's Grand Rapids on Saturday.

The roster crunch stems from the emergence of 20-year-old defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who has impressed early in the season and appears to have secured a full-time role.

Through four games, Sandin-Pellikka has logged the fourth-most minutes among all Red Wings players excluding goalies, and has anchored the second pairing of Detroit's blue line.

Moving one or both players wouldn't bring anything of top-level quality in return, but could help Detroit free roster space as the Red Wings try to address other needs, including their search for offensive help.