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The intrigue of the NHL Draft is, of course, the landing spots for each of the game’s draft eligible prospects. It’s the event where mock drafts are proven wrong or right as each NHL franchise adds a handful of new prospects to keep an eye on over the coming years. But no one can deny that palpable excitement whenever NHL commissioner Gary Bettman approaches the podium and says the words that have echoed throughout history:

“We have a trade to announce.”

So much of the fun that comes from watching the NHL Draft is the unexpected nature of draft day trades. You never know which teams are going to make a deal, and you never know when they are going to come. Detroit Red Wings general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman is no stranger to making deals on the draft floor; just last year he made a deal with the Edmonton Oilers that saw the Red Wings inherit Klim Kostin and Kailer Yamamoto in exchange for future considerations. The previous year, he flipped a third round pick (73rd overall) to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for goaltender Ville Husso. Yzerman and his colleagues will have another opportunity to wheel and deal on the draft floor when the 2024 NHL Draft begins on June 28 and ends the following day.

As for what kind of deals could be out there in this year’s edition of the NHL Draft, it’s anyone’s guess as rumors of top-10 picks and several intriguing players being available have begun to pop up throughout the league. Here are some ideas of what the Red Wings could get themselves into when all 32 NHL GMs meet at the NHL Draft.

Red Wings Move Back to Move Salary

Red Wings acquire 2024 picks 18 & 67; Blackhawks acquire (D) Justin Holl & pick 15

It is no secret that the Red Wings’ days of hoarding salary cap space are about to be behind them. Even with the recent announcement that next season’s salary cap is set at $88 million, a slight jump up from what was initially projected, the Red Wings will have to spend their money wisely this summer with big contracts on the way for Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, as well as the team’s continued interest in retaining veterans David Perron and Patrick Kane. They have a projected $29.3 million to work with, though at least half of it is probably already accounted for.

The trade suggested here gives the Red Wings a little more breathing room. Detroit signed Justin Holl to a three-year deal last summer with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million, but the 32-year-old defenseman appeared in just 38 games, making him quite expensive for a seventh defenseman. His value may be at an all-time low, but that does not mean he can’t provide value for a team under the right circumstances. For the Red Wings, this move sees them move back three spots in the first round and add an early third round pick to move the veteran of 323 games to the Chicago Blackhawks and free up extra cap space to work with.

The Blackhawks are inclined to do this deal because of the opportunities available at 15 – especially if there’s a surprise faller in the draft – and it only costs them a third round pick to go get their guy. They have nearly $33 million in cap space and they don’t have any key players to re-sign. Holl helps them to make progress towards the salary floor and fill out their roster, and his deal contract isn’t going to handcuff them as they slowly begin to build around Connor Bedard.