The Esa Lindell trade...

With the Red Wings once again vying for a draft lottery spot, perhaps this is a good time to introduce a new edition of team articles that highlight some up and coming prospects along with any trades or special news from within the organization.  The team articles will be referred to as ‘While You Were Sleeping’ which reflects its GMs late night inabilities to sleep.

The first edition to the teams articles will reflect its trade of Captain Esa Lindell to the Flyers.  This was a very tough and agonizing trade for the organization to make as Lindell was a the ongoing highlight night after night even with all the struggles the team has been going through.  Lindell spent almost five years with the team gathering 208pts in 368 games and averaged well above 20mins of playing time each game.  So why trade such a valuable player you ask?  Age played an important role in the decision.  With the team focusing on a rebuild, trading Lindell while he is putting up points in order to maximize a return finally made sense.  Lindell leaves the team in his prime with a couple years left under contract which made room for a 1^st round pick in 2023 and a young and potential top 4 D in Henri Jokiharju. 

Henri Jokiharju is currently an RFA and will require an additional signing which the team will extend.  He is currently playing in the NHL on the top line with Rasmus Dahlin and is currently averaging 20mins per game.  Jokiharju was the 29 pick in the 2017 NHL draft and though he has had some set backs with injury, the Red Wings feel he has a bright future and will is a long term investment for the organization.