The Detroit Red Wings have taken a step in the right direction this season, as they have a 21-19-8 record at the time of this writing. However, although they have been more competitive this season, they still trail the Pittsburgh Penguins by seven points for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. As a result, they are unlikely to browse the trade market for rentals during this campaign. However, general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman is in a position where he can look to add players with term if he believes it will benefit the team in the long run.
I recently argued that the Red Wings should consider the prospect of making a major push for Arizona Coyotes star defenseman Jakob Chychrun. Although the 24-year-old would be a huge addition to Detroit, the Coyotes also have a hidden gem on their roster that the Red Wings should consider acquiring. Let’s dive into why now.
Nick Schmaltz Emerging as Trade Candidate
The Arizona Coyotes are in a full-on rebuild, so they are naturally open for business. Besides Chychrun, players like Shayne Gostisbehere, Nick Bjugstad, Nick Ritchie, Karel Vejmelka, and Christian Fischer have all been deemed as potential trading pieces from the Coyotes. However, when noting that Nick Schmaltz has been playing some of the best hockey of his career, the Coyotes could very well look to take advantage of his heightened trade value. Furthermore, this is the final season before his 10-team no-trade list kicks in, so that could lead Arizona to move him while they have no restrictions.
If Schmaltz is made available, there would be a plethora of teams interested in him. After all, he carries a $5.85 million cap hit until the end of the 2025-26 season and has proven that he is a legitimate top-six forward at the NHL level. In 34 games this season, the Wisconsin native currently has 11 goals and 28 points. Furthermore, over his last 82 games, he has scored 33 goals and recorded 82 points. Needless to say, he has taken his game to another level over the last two years, and one has to wonder if he could produce even more if moved to a team with better players to work with.
When noting that Schmaltz has multiple years left at a reasonable cap hit, I believe that the Red Wings should consider having trade discussions with the Coyotes centering around him. On paper, there seems to be a potential match here, but let’s now discuss why.
Why Schmaltz Could Be a Perfect Fit for Red…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…