Connor McDavid is coming off a disappointing loss to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. People are talking about the possibility of McDavid leaving Edmonton after the loss to the Anaheim Ducks. So, would Detroit make sense as a potential landing spot for the Red Wings superstar center?
While it's highly unlikely in reality, what exactly would McDavid have to do to land in Detroit? This is what needs to happen for the Red Wings.
The Detroit Red Wings need to have a very strong 2026-27 NHL season
It is highly unlikely that McDavid will request a trade from Edmonton before even playing a season on his new two-year contract extension. Therefore, a trade during the 2027 NHL offseason will likely become more likely. The 29-year-old star will have one year left on his contract and Edmonton will have to make a difficult decision if re-signing seems like a long shot.
In this scenario, Detroit would have to perform at a high level during the 2026–27 NHL season. As of right now, it's a long shot that McDavid will want to play with the Red Wings. The organization has the longest playoff drought in the NHL, and McDavid looks to compete for the Stanley Cup in 2024 and 2025 after falling short.
The Edmonton center is unhappy with being eliminated in the first round, so Detroit would not be a viable destination. Therefore, the Red Wings need to put themselves back in a position where superstar players will want to join the team. Right now, Detroit doesn't have the same appeal as other organizations.
This is the first step in a mission to do business for McDavid. Even if the Red Wings can make a Buffalo Sabres-style jump during the 2026-27 NHL season, McDavid will have to work his way out of becoming a Red Wing.
Connor McDavid must request trade with Detroit as destination
The most important move for the Red Wings is McDavid requesting a trade from the Oilers. It would be almost impossible for Edmonton to trade McDavid without demands or the realization that he won't be around for long. If McDavid requests a trade or expresses a desire to leave, the Red Wings should be one of the preferred destinations.
It has to do with Detroit becoming an attractive landing spot. All of this becomes irrelevant if the Red Wings miss the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, if Detroit can massively improve and become a contender, all of this will change. At that point, McDavid may have more desire to play in Detroit.
Even in this scenario, Detroit wouldn't be the only team that wants McDavid on their roster. Other organizations will be pushing to acquire the 29-year-old superstar, leading to a bidding war for his services. After all, the same bidding war happened when the Minnesota Wild acquired Quinn Hughes.
The Red Wings did not want to pull the trigger without a long-term contract extension, and they failed to land Hughes. In a scenario where Detroit improves into a Stanley Cup contender, and McDavid requests a trade, the organization would likely need a similar commitment.
Connor McDavid is unlikely to join the Red Wings during his NHL career. However, if all of these scenarios occur, it gives Detroit a chance to land one of the NHL's biggest superstars.
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