Trade Month: What Will the Red Wings do?

With just under a month until the NHL trade deadline, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in both first place and in a position to add this year. Though they are in first place, Detroit would certainly benefit from some additional depth both on defence and in secondary scoring.  With close to $5 million in cap space, the Red Wings should and will be aggressive as rebuilding teams unload their established players. But who would Detroit add? This post will give a couple possible candidates.

1. Ales Hemsky Edmonton Oilers- Hemsky has been on the trading block all season and it is almost a guarantee he will be dealt this month. Though he remains an inconsistent player, when he is on his game Hemsky can score with the best of them. He fits under the cap with a $4 million salary but Edmonton's asking price may be too steep for a rental player. The rumours suggest they want both a young but talented defenceman and a first round pick, similar to the Dustin Penner last year. Hemsky is a big risk but big reward player that a team, maybe Detroit, will pay to get.
2. Lubomir Visnovsky Anaheim Ducks- Visnovsky is one of the more talented and experienced defencemen on the market this year, but if the Ducks continue winning he may be off the market. Though he isn't talked about much because he plays in California, Visnovsky finished last season with 68 points and already has 18 in a season that began with an injury. With a cap hit of $5.6 million, the Wings would need to give up an established player in return. But if available at the right price, he might be able to lessen the burden that will come if Nick Lidstrom retires this summer.
3. Tuomo Ruutu Carolina Hurricanes- Ruutu is a guy who can add depth and scoring to any forward group which is why his name has been linked to almost any team. Scheduled to be a free agent this summer, his $3.8 million cap hit fits perfectly in with the Red Wings, at least as a rental player. He also will probably not have a large trade off, potentially something as small as a 2nd round pick. Ruutu may just be the guy that helps the Wings make a run.
4. Zach Parise New Jersey Devils- Though the Devils still are in a playoff spot, this may be the time where Parise is at his most valuable. Rumours suggest that he will not resign there this summer and so if he doesn't get traded this month, the return on him after the playoffs will be close to nothing. He does carry a $6 million cap hit but he would easily require a current line player in return, maybe Hudler, which would balance the cap hit. Parise, like Hemsky, is a guy that can provide scoring but has been inconsistent as of late. It is a long shot for this deal to happen, but it isn't impossible.
5. Ryan Suter Nashville Predators- Recent All-Star Suter is likely to become the biggest free agent defenceman this summer and he would fit perfectly in the Red Wings line up. Nashville General Manager David Poile did say Suter wasn't going to be traded and it would a long shot if he was, but Detroit may make an offer they cannot refuse. Like Parise, Suter's trade value will decrease the closer they get to July 1st so it may benefit the Predators to part was with him now. Consider this trade the least likely of the five, but if it happens, it could be the biggest of the deadline.

Josh Beneteau is a young, aspiring journalist. His website is www.jbenny.com and you can follow him on twitter at @jbenny15.  Thanks for reading.