Days of the Big Deadline Deal Long Gone for Detroit
FollowThe NHL trade deadline used to be a day similar to Christmas for the Detroit Red Wings. In the pre-salary cap era, Ken Holland and the Red Wings front office were never afraid to make a big move to fill a potential gap.
Detroit routinely sent prospects and draft picks packing for big name players that they believed would bolster their Stanley Cup chances. The Red Wings didn’t seem bothered by trades that involved top prospects or high end draft picks, knowing they could fill holes via free agency. Detroit also had a reputation for drafting quality players later in the draft.
One of their biggest moves came in March of 1999, when the Red Wings completed four separate trades in a failed attempt to win a third straight Stanley Cup. Detroit acquired Chris Chelios, Wendel Clark, Ulf Samuelsson, and Bill Ranford. In exchange, Detroit gave up five draft picks – including two first rounders and two roster players in Kevin Hodson and former first round pick Anders Eriksson.
Since the implementation of the NHL salary cap, activity at the trade deadline has diminished. Teams, including the Red Wings, are far less willing to move draft picks and prospects for big name big ticket players. Teams making a deal must have cap space in order to acquire a player which only adds complexity and has limited Detroit’s ability to make a big trade heading into the playoffs.
Here’s a brief look at Detroit’s trades since the inception of the NHL salary cap:
2005-2006: Detroit acquired Cory Cross from Pittsburgh for a 2007 fourth round selection (Alex Grant); Detroit trades Jamie Rivers to Phoenix for a 2006 7th round pick (Nick Oslund)
2006-2007: Detroit acquired Todd Bertuzzi from Florida for Shawn Matthias and a 2007 second round pick (Nick Spaling)
2007-2008: Detroit acquired Brad Stuart from Los Angeles for a 2008 second round pick (Peter Delmas) and a fourth round pick in 2009 (Ben Chiarot)
2008-2009: No movements
2009-2010: Detroit trades Ville Leino to Philadelphia for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a 5th round pick in the 2011 draft.