NHL Rumor Roundup: Should The Detroit Red Wings Pursue Pettersson Or Thomas?

The Detroit Red Wings missed the playoffs for the 10th straight year.

That's the NHL's longest active post-season drought, with the last seven years coming under GM Steve Yzerman.

It was the third straight season that the Red Wings entered March holding a playoff berth, only to collapse down the stretch and finish outside the post-season picture.

Post-Mortem: Another Late-Season Collapse By The Red Wings Raises Questions For Management

The Detroit Red Wings' playoff drought will now extend to a 10th consecutive season after they were eliminated Saturday. And Detroit's extended suffering could lead to GM Steve Yzerman losing his job. Where did it all go wrong in Motown?

MLive.com's Ansar Khan observed the Red Wings lack an elite scoring forward. He felt they should be aggressive in this summer's trade market.

Khan suggested the Wings make a serious pitch for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas or Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson. He also mentioned Auston Matthews, if he becomes available, but doubted the Toronto Maple Leafs would trade him to an Atlantic Division rival.

Like Allen, Khan believes the Red Wings must upgrade their bottom six forwards. He also felt they should find a reliable second-line center, noting the position has been a concern for years.

There has been speculation about Alex DeBrincat's future with the Red Wings. He will be UFA-eligible in July 2027, but the Wings can sign him to an extension starting this July.

It remains to be seen how DeBrincat's contract talks go this summer, but it's unlikely they'll trade their leading goal-scorer.

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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM.