The Red Wings are seeking a top-four, right-shot defenseman ahead of the March 6th trade deadline. Is Tyler Myers their guy?
The Red Wings have a reported trade offer on the table for Myers, who has a no-move clause and therefore a decision to make in the next few days. A 17-year vet, Myers is under contract through next season with a cap hit of $3 million.
"He's considering a trade offer with Detroit," NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend on Hockey Night in Canada.
"As we speak tonight, I believe that offer is still on the table,” Friedman said Saturday. "I think everybody was hoping that there would be a decision by Monday, I just don’t know where it stands right now. I also don’t believe, as we do this, that Vancouver has a firm other offer for Myers. I think they're talking to teams, but I don’t get the sense that there is anything else firm at this point in time. We’ll see by Monday."
Myers is nearing the end of his career at the age of 36, but remains a solid minutes-eater with huge size who can win pucks and clear space in his own zone. At 6'8, he would slot in next to the 6'3 Ben Chiarot on the Red Wings' second pair and complete an imposing top four behind the 6'3 Moritz Seider and 6'6 Simon Edvinsson.
Myers has played north of 20 minutes a night this season for the Canucks, who are last in the NHL. He doesn't provide much offense and his minus-25 rating is one of the worst in the league this year, but he was a plus-player the last two seasons when the Canucks were much more competitive. He would benefit from a more stable environment.
Steve Yzerman will likely be busy this week as the Red Wings gear up for the stretch run trying to snap a nine-year playoff drought. Other defensemen who could be on their trade include Justin Faulk of the Blues, Dougie Hamilton of the Devils and Connor Murphy of the Blackhawks.
Detroit could also use some more scoring punch up front, either in the form of a second-line center like Vincent Trocheck of the Rangers or a physical winger who can move the needle offensively like Blake Coleman of the Flames.