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Steve Yzerman, General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Red Wings Have Earned Trade Deadline Reinforcements

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Tony Wolak | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 8:25 AM ET

Last year, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was not pleased with how the trade deadline played out.

“It was hard that we didn’t do anything,” Larkin said at his end-of-year media availability. “And then I felt the group kind of – we didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline and guys were kind of down about it. It’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice, and maybe a morale boost as well.”

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman addressed these comments a few days later, sharing that he weighed potential acquisitions around the trade deadline, but, ultimately, concluded that “there were no good options.”

Fast-forward to February 2026 – the Red Wings sit second in the Atlantic Division and are only a couple points back of the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Things are clicking in Detroit, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes that Larkin could get his wish this year.

“I think that Yzerman wants to help the Wings,” Friedman shared on the 32 Thoughts podcast. “I do believe Yzerman has said these players earn help and he’s trying to get them help.”

Indeed, the Red Wings have earned it. They have gone out and exceeded expectations. Now, it’s time for Yzerman to reward them.

Red Wings Have Earned Trade Deadline Help

There’s a new attitude in Detroit. This is a much different team than what we saw last year – they’re fully Todd McLellan’s team now. (After coaching changes, incoming coaches typically refrain from major adjustments and only make small tweaks to the existing systems, strategy, etc. since there’s very little time during the season for implementation.)

Detroit’s 33-18-6 record is certainly evidence of that. So is their resiliency – the team does not collapse in the face of adversity anymore. And this developmental progress warrants a reward in the form of reinforcements.

Yzerman has been actively working to find help. From what I’ve heard, the Red Wings are checking in on everything. Yzerman is leaving no stone unturned as we approach the trade deadline.

They were in on Quinn Hughes. They were in on Kiefer Sherwood. The Red Wings also made a play for Rasmus Andersson. And while these players ultimately went to other teams, the evidence is there that Yzerman is trying to improve his team.

Other rumors out there validate this, too. Friedman previously mentioned a possible connection with the Winnipeg Jets. TSN’s Darren Dreger also reported that the Red Wings are seeking a second-line center and a right-hand defenseman.

It’s also worth noting that Detroit’s direct competitors stand to add at the trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres—plus the top Metropolitan Division teams—will be buyers next month. Not only have the Red Wings earned reinforcements, they also need to add to keep up with the competition.

Final Word

Whether it’s offensive firepower, defensive depth, or both, the Red Wings need to add at this year’s deadline. They’ve earned it. And, from all indications, Yzerman is seeking the right deal to bolster the organization.

That right deal may have to wait, though. The NHL’s Olympic trade freeze takes effect at 3:00pm ET on Wednesday, February 4th. It ends at 11:59pm ET on Sunday, February 22nd.

Regardless, Yzerman has until 3:00pm ET on March 6th to reward his team with the reinforcements that they so rightly deserve. It’s finally time to buy in Hockeytown.