Why Red Wings failed at 2025 NHL Trade Deadline
Steve Yzerman saw his Detroit Red Wings enter the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline just outside of the Wild Card race in the East. Detroit held onto one of the Wild Card spots heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off. However, a string of four straight losses — two of them to their fellow playoff contender Columbus Blue Jackets — dropped them slightly off the pace.
Yzerman and his Red Wings were in a similar position this time last year. The Detroit icon turned general manager watched as his team ripped through the league in January and February. And on March 8, 2024, the Winged Wheel was in possession of the first Wild Card spot. They were tied on points with the Tampa Bay Lightning at that time.
Detroit elected not to make a trade last season. However, the Red Wings made a trade at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. They traded center Joe Veleno to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for goalie Petr Mrazek and center Craig Smith.
Detroit fans were excited to see this team make a move at the deadline. But this particular move drew out a long-standing frustration with the team. And, in particular, Yzerman’s unwillingness to make a move to truly bolster the roster ahead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
There is a feeling that the Red Wings lost the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline from many around the league. Unfortunately for Detroit, this feeling is not unfounded. Let’s take a look at why this deadline came as a failure for a team well in the weeds of a painstaking rebuild.
