Likeliest Offseason Trade Destination For Red Wings' Justin Holl

4 days ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors  /  Read Time: 1 minute 30 seconds

The Detroit Red Wings' defense is going to be very good soon with a core of Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Axel Sandin Pellikka, but they have to get through this season first.Seider is already signed long-term and Edvinsson still has another year left on his entry-level deal, but Sandin Pellikka has yet to make his NHL debut which is coming. I have a feeling he is going to skip the AHL entirely, but if he plays there, it won't be long at all.The Red Wings have made some poor decisions defensively, like giving Justin Holl a multi-year contract at $3.4 million AAV, but have the chance to mend that by trading him this summer with one year left on that deal, even if it means using a draft pick to do so. I know the last time the team dumped a contract of a defenseman, it didn't go so well. I'm referring to Jake Walman.Interestingly enough, Walman was traded to the San Jose Sharks, the same team that I believe the Red Wings will try to dump Holl on this offseason as well. The Sharks are still weak defensively and are losing at least a couple of players from their defensive group in Jan Rutta and Jimmy Schuldt. While the team has some young players they would rather play than not and Holl would take up a spot on the roster, he is a veteran and can be a body to help certain young players ease themselves in.The Sharks aren't going to turn things around and be competitive next season after another bottom of the league finish. They could acquire another asset for taking on one year of a contract. The team doesn't even really have to play him. They could even just buy him out and save a bit of money. That extra cap hit on the season after will do nothing for a team that won't be close to the cap.The Red Wings have to seriously look into moving on from Holl. They are already going to rid themselves of Jeff Petry's contract, so if the team wants to make the jump and finally get back into the playoffs, steps like this have to be taken.Photo credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images...

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