Red Wings’ trade pitch shows them making a blockbuster acquisition to acquire a $48 million forward deal.
In an attempt to break through their playoff skid, the Detroit Red Wings have acquired a great forward with one trade proposal.
Users may design their own deals using the PuckGM tool on the website PuckPedia. A user put forth a trade that would see Pavel Buchnevich of the St. Louis Blues acquired by the Red Wings.
The proposed trade for star forward Buchnevich would be a blockbuster, with Detroit giving up a first-round selection, two seconds, and an NHL player. While the Blues become younger and add pieces to their possible rebuild, Detroit increases its scoring.
As he approaches the last year of his current four-year $23.2 million contract, Buchnevich has agreed to a six-year $42 million agreement that will begin with the 2025–2026 NHL season. Thus, Buchnevich would be acquired by Detroit for seven seasons, which accounts for the high price.
Buchnevich may rank among Detroit’s top six forwards and boost the team’s scoring totals. In 80 games during the previous campaign, Buchnevich totaled 63 points with 27 goals and 36 assists. He has skated in 517 NHL games, scoring 401 points (with 162 goals and 239 assists) in those games.
On September 16, Berggren, an RFA, signed a one-year contract for $825,000 with Detroit. For general manager Steve Yzerman, it was among the last tasks he had to do. Even though the contract is just for a year, he is happy to have it completed.
On September 17, Yzerman stated, “[We] probably weren’t in a position at this time to do a two-year deal knowing what the salary cap is.” It appears that both sides are OK with a one-year agreement. After a successful season, Jonatan finds himself in a strong position to renegotiate after a year.
Along with the draft selections, Detroit also lets go of the 24-year-old forward Berggren. Berggren can play a larger role than he has in Detroit and be a bottom-six forward for the Blues. The Swede played in 12 games last season, earning 2 goals and 4 assists for a total of 6 points. He was chosen in the second round of the 2018 NHL draft.
Yzerman thinks Berggren can have a significant influence this season even though the Swede was only signed by the Red Wings for a one-year contract.
“He’s very talented,” Yzerman went on. We’re quite happy with the way he performed in the closing moments. He had a difficult year that was somewhat up and down. However, he put in a lot of effort each time he returned to Grand Rapids, and based on his preseason appearance here in Detroit, it appears like he put in a lot of work this summer as well. He plays hockey well, is in good physical condition, and has strong skills. And it’s simply a matter of ability at the NHL level; he has demonstrated his skill and hockey sense to play in the NHL during a few of his call-ups and brief stints. He’s been patient and hardworking, and this year he will have a terrific opportunity.
Detroit takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins at home on October 10 to kick off the 2024–25 NHL season.
Analyst Applauds the Contract with Buchnevich
On July 2, Buchnevich agreed to a contract extension with the St. Louis Blues worth $48 million over six years.
The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, an NHL analyst, thinks the Blues fared well with the deal.
The fact that the Blues limited Buchnevich’s deal to six years instead of the maximum eight, meaning it will expire in his mid-30s, is fantastic. For a guy who has averaged almost a point per game (0.96) over his three seasons in St. Louis, the AAV is also reasonable, according to Rutherford.
Since July 2021, when he was moved from the New York Rangers, Buchnevich has been a member of the Blues.
