Red Wings Trade Deadline 2026: Pettersson and Trocheck Lead Top Targets for Playoff Push

With the NHL trade deadline just days away, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in unfamiliar territory. 

Sitting inside a playoff spot for the first time in years, the Red Wings are positioned to be buyers at the trade deadline and GM Steve Yzerman has reportedly made it clear he’s willing to move picks and prospects to bolster the roster. 

Detroit’s two biggest needs are a top-six center and a top-four right-shot defenseman, and there are several names in play. 

Here’s a look at five players the Red Wings are targeting at the 2026 trade deadline that could turn them into Stanley Cup contenders.

Elias Pettersson

The biggest name swirling around Detroit is Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson. 

The Red Wings are said to be aggressively pursuing the 27-year-old, driven by concern over their depth down the middle behind captain Dylan Larkin. 

It’s a complicated situation. 

Pettersson has gone from a 100-point player who received Hart Trophy votes in 2022-23 to one of the most disappointing players in the league, totaling just 28 goals and 52 assists across the last 114 games. 

He also carries a full no-movement clause on his eight-year, $92.8 million deal, meaning he controls his own destination. 

The ask from Vancouver would be steep, likely including young centers like Marco Kasper or Nate Danielson alongside Detroit’s 2026 first-round pick. 

High risk, high reward.

Tyler Myers

On the defensive side, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Red Wings made a trade offer to the Canucks for right-shot defenseman Tyler Myers, who would fill Detroit’s need on the right side of the blueline. 

The catch? Myers has a no-move clause and has yet to make up his mind on whether to accept a trade to Detroit. 

The 6-foot-8 blueliner brings size and penalty-killing ability to a Detroit back end that can sometimes struggle to protect the front of the net. His contract is team-friendly at $3 million AAV through the 2026-27 season, making the cost of acquisition relatively low, if he agrees to go.

Could Myers and Petterson be packaged together in a blockbuster deal?

Vincent Trocheck

If Pettersson feels too risky, Trocheck is the safer, arguably more appealing center option. 

Fresh off winning Olympic gold with Team USA, Trocheck is firmly on the trade block as the Rangers begin yet another rebuild. He’s a reliable middle-six center who kills penalties and wins faceoffs — exactly the kind of player GMs covet heading into the playoffs. 

Unlike Pettersson, there are no concerns about his effort or attitude. 

Trocheck’s ability to win faceoffs at the same level as Larkin and contribute on the penalty kill makes him an ideal fit alongside the Wings’ existing core.

Braden Schneider

As Detroit shops for defensive help, Schneider has emerged as a cost-effective option from the rebuilding Rangers. 

His affordable $2.2 million cap hit makes him an attractive addition without breaking the bank. 

As part of a Rangers retool, Schneider could end up being moved depending on what New York decides to build around.

He wouldn’t be a marquee addition, but as a young, physical right-shot defenseman with term remaining, he fits the profile of what Yzerman is looking for on the blue line.

Logan Stanley

Stanley rounds out the list as a depth defensive option. 

The Winnipeg Jets blueliner is a low-cost, sub-$2 million cap hit option for teams looking to add size and physicality without significant investment. 

At 6-foot-7, he brings a physical presence similar to Myers but without the same defensive upside or term complications. 

For Detroit, Stanley would serve as a depth piece, a plug-in option if bigger deals fall through before the Friday deadline.