The Detroit Red Wings are making a strong push to end their playoff drought, and a major trade proposal has them bolstering their blue line with the acquisition of star defenseman Scott Mayfield from the New York Islanders.
In this proposed blockbuster deal, the Red Wings would receive Mayfield, while the Islanders would get defenseman Justin Holl, forward Jonatan Berggren, and a 2025 first-round pick. Mayfield, entering the second year of a seven-year, $24.5 million contract, would immediately slot into Detroit’s top defensive pairings. Known for his size, defensive prowess, and penalty-killing abilities, Mayfield could be the defensive anchor the Red Wings have been seeking.
Last season, Mayfield appeared in just 41 games, recording 5 assists, as he dealt with injury issues, including a fractured left ankle. Despite trying to play through the injury, it eventually required surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the season. The 34th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, Mayfield has a solid NHL career with 469 games under his belt, tallying 25 goals and 91 assists.
In exchange, Detroit would part ways with defenseman Justin Holl and young forward Jonatan Berggren. Holl, who struggled for playing time and was occasionally a healthy scratch last season, is in the second year of a three-year, $10.2 million deal. He could step in to replace Mayfield on the Islanders’ blue line. Berggren, meanwhile, is a promising Swedish forward, though he’s struggled to secure a full-time role in the Red Wings’ lineup. He signed a one-year, $825,000 deal as a restricted free agent this offseason.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has emphasized the need for Detroit to improve defensively if they want to compete for a playoff spot. “We need to be a better defensive hockey club top to bottom,” Yzerman said. “Our special teams both improved last season, and we scored more goals, but we gave up too many to make the playoffs.”
Detroit opens its 2024-25 season at home on October 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Mayfield’s addition could be a key piece in making the Red Wings a more formidable defensive team.
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