Several top Red Wings trade candidates suggested

The Detroit Red Wings have completed the fourth year of what they like to refer to as the "Yzerplan", named for beloved former team captain and current general manager Steve Yzerman. And while the good news is that the team did make progress in the recently completed 2022-23 NHL season, the bad news is that they once again finished outside of the postseason, making it seven straight years of being unable to compete for the Stanley Cup. 

Detroit was dealt two serious blows almost immediately right off the bat this season, with Tyler Bertuzzi breaking his hand in the second game of the year and then subsequently breaking his other hand after missing six weeks with the initial injury. And of course, fans won't soon forget the saga involving Vrana in which he entered the NHLPA Player Assistance Program for an undisclosed personal matter and then playing sparingly with the Red Wings upon his reinstatement. 

Simply put, the Red Wings need more goal scoring. And fans are understandably justified in hoping that Yzerman acquires one or more bonafide offensive threats to help compensate for the offense lost by Bertuzzi and Vrana.

Beat writer Max Bultman of The Athletic has put together an intriguing list of possibilities that Yzerman could consider, one of whom is a homegrown talent would absolutely be a no-brainer. Take a look at a few of the names listed: 

- Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa Senators 

"Another name sure to be popular in Detroit is a native son, DeBrincat, whose name is already back in trade rumors less than a year after he was dealt from Chicago to Ottawa. He had a quieter year by his standards, but that still meant 27 goals and 66 points — production that would have made him the Red Wings’ second-leading scorer. More importantly, he’s a two-time 40-goal scorer, which Detroit famously hasn’t had since Marian Hossa in 2009."

- William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs 

"Nylander will be perhaps the hottest name this summer as intrigue about Toronto’s future swirls. And while his reputation as an at-times frustrating player precedes him, he still would answer a ton of questions for the Red Wings. Nylander is a 40-goal scorer coming off his second straight 80-point campaign. He’s also been more productive in the playoffs the last few years than that reputation might lead one to believe — with 14 goals and 29 points in 30 playoff games since 2020. For a team lacking offense, you can understand why he’d be near (or at) the top of the wish list."

- Nick Schmaltz, Arizona Coyotes

"Schmaltz has been a bit of a Red Wing killer, with six points in three games against Detroit the last two seasons. He also just wrapped up his second straight season flirting with a point-per-game pace — finishing with 59 and 58 points, respectively, in 63 games."