Red Wings Eye Major Offseason Shakeup After Missing Playoffs Again
Following another season without a playoff appearance—their ninth straight—the Detroit Red Wings may be looking to make bold moves this offseason. A fan-created trade scenario using PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool suggests a significant roster shakeup, including the acquisition of veteran defenseman Justin Faulk from the St. Louis Blues.
Proposed Blockbuster Trade:
Red Wings receive:
Blues receive:
- Justin Holl
- Michael Rasmussen
- 2025 third-round pick
This hypothetical trade would be a major shift for Detroit, bringing in a proven top-pairing defenseman and a reliable bottom-six forward. Faulk, who has two years remaining on his five-year, $45.5 million contract, would bring stability and experience to Detroit’s blue line. In the 2023–24 season, he posted 4 goals and 28 assists in 78 games.
Detroit would also pick up Alexandre Texier, a depth forward with one year left on his $4.2 million deal. He tallied 6 goals and 5 assists over 31 games.
In return, the Red Wings would send the Blues defenseman Justin Holl, who had 8 points in 73 games and has one year remaining on his $10.2 million contract, as well as Michael Rasmussen, a 2017 first-round pick with three years left at $3.2 million per year. Rasmussen posted 11 goals and 10 assists in 77 games this season. A third-round draft pick would round out the offer.
🗣️ Frustration from Within the Locker Room
Tensions are rising in Detroit, especially after team captain Dylan Larkin voiced his frustration during the season-ending press conference on April 19. Larkin felt the team lost momentum after the trade deadline, hinting that GM Steve Yzerman missed a key opportunity to bolster the roster.
“We didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline, and guys were kinda down about it. So it’d be nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and a morale boost as well,” Larkin said.
Optimism for the Future
Despite missing the postseason by just five points with a final record of 39-35-8, the Red Wings remain optimistic about their young core and the team’s future. Forward Lucas Raymond echoed that mindset:
“You grow up playing hockey, and you play to win stuff… Not being able to do that is frustrating. Everyone is very determined to change that and take that next step very soon.”
Whether this trade proposal becomes reality or not, the message is clear: Detroit is under pressure to act, and fans—and players—are expecting a more aggressive offseason approach from the front office.
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