The 2026 Stanley Cup Final has ended, and the Carolina Hurricanes are Stanley Cup champions. With this now in the rearview mirror, the NHL offseason can begin in earnest. Teams like the Detroit Red Wings have already started a lot of their background work regarding the offseason. For the Red Wings in particular, things have become quite chaotic before the offseason has even begun.
The Red Wings are navigating a trade request from captain Dylan Larkin. Larkin is seeking to be traded after the franchise has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last 10 seasons. And this is only one of the things general manager Steve Yzerman is considering before NHL Free Agency has even begun.
Star defenseman Simon Edvinsson needs a new contract extension. He is entering restricted free agency this summer. Prospect goaltender Sebastian Cossa is also in the trade rumor mill, along with Larkin. Future Hall of Fame winger Patrick Kane is an unrestricted free agent this summer and could leave Detroit after three seasons.
There is a lot on Yzerman’s plate as of now. However, this team has a lot of cap space, even when considering the Edvinsson extension. They will likely create more once Larkin is traded. And they could dump additional contracts, as well. Detroit could be a major player in NHL Free Agency, and with that in mind, here is one player the Red Wings must sign.
Red Wings could strengthen center depth with Boone Jenner signing
The Red Wings would ideally like to address the center position through trade. If they can get a young, top-six center in a Larkin trade, that would be a job well done for Yzerman. At the same time, that sort of deal may be quite difficult for Yzerman to pull off. Especially if the Red Wings captain does not expand his trade list this summer.
If Detroit can’t get a center through trade, they will need to add one in NHL Free Agency. In this scenario, Boone Jenner is the best option available. And he’s certainly a solid player to add to this Red Wings lineup.
Jenner is far from the sexiest name to be available this offseason. But he is a productive player who can contribute at both ends of the ice. Since 2019-20, no player has scored more goals for the Columbus Blue Jackets than Jenner. The Blue Jackets captain is also second behind Zach Werenski for points in that time.
This move certainly won’t solve the team’s need for a top-six center. What it does do, though, is give the Red Wings an experienced player who is well respected and who can be a voice the younger players can rely on. With uncertainty potentially settling in for Detroit, adding someone like this to the locker room is important.
The contract Jenner may command is something that can throw a wrench into this, though. Detroit likely won’t want to give the Blue Jackets captain a long-term deal. At the same time, he certainly could land a long-term deal on the open market. Additionally, he could get a decent payday, given that he is the top center on the free agent market.
If the Red Wings can work something out with Jenner, it’s a smart decision for this franchise. It gives them a backup plan in the event they need to take some other package of value in a Larkin trade that does not include a center. And it shows the team won’t simply give up on the 2026-27 season in the aftermath of Larkin’s trade request.
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