NHL insider Darren Dreger has suggested that the Detroit Red Wings are targeting Calgary Flames players Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar in a possible blockbuster trade ahead of the Olympic break. The Red Wings, positioned second in the Atlantic Division, seek non-rental players with contract term to bolster their roster. This speculation comes as the trade deadline approaches, with a freeze set to begin soon.
The Detroit Red Wings are emerging as active buyers in the NHL trade market, a role they haven't fully embraced in over a decade. Currently holding the second spot in the Atlantic Division behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, the team faces pressure from close competitors. NHL insider Darren Dreger, speaking on the Barn Burner podcast with Dean “Boomer” Molberg and Ryan Pinder, highlighted the Red Wings' interest in Calgary Flames assets.
Dreger noted that while the Red Wings were previously linked to Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson—who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights—they remain focused on acquiring players with remaining contract years. "Detroit is specifically looking for non-rentals; they want guys with term, both as a right-shot defenseman and a scoring forward," Dreger said. He added, "They'd like - maybe they can make a heck of a deal with Calgary, because they want definition at center ice. They want a top-two center."
Potential targets include forward Nazem Kadri and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. Kadri, 35, is signed through 2029 on a seven-year, $49 million contract he inked with Calgary in 2022. He scored a career-high 35 goals last season and contributed to the Colorado Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup win. Weegar, a right-shot defenseman acquired by the Flames in the 2022 trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to Florida in exchange for Jonathan Huberdeau and others, signed an eight-year, $50 million extension. He leads Calgary in ice time at over 23 minutes per game and plays in all situations.
The Red Wings have nearly $13 million in salary cap space and a deep pool of prospects to offer in trades. However, an NHL-wide trade freeze begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday and lasts until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 22, limiting the window for deals ahead of the Olympic break.
