23 days ago the Detroit Red Wings sat in 10th place on the verge of another year of middling. Fighting for a final playoff spot or potentially just missing the playoffs. Team looking lost at times and just never really getting going. GM Hetherington grew tired of his team's play and spent the last 23 days working on multiple blockbusters that will change the Detroit Red Wings franchise forever.

It started off with GM Hetherington ending the Patrik Laine experiment after only playing a season and a half with the Red Wings. Detroit sent a big package to get him and 23 days ago they got a big package in return for him. Hoping for a wash in the end. Coming back to Detroit was Nick Suzuki, Boris Katchouk, Alexander Romanov, BUF 2026 Rnd 1 and cash. Four big future pieces some of which didn't last the 23 days.

On the same day, a deal was completed with the Vegas Golden Knights for former Red Wing and strong veteran player James Sheppard for Nolan Foote and Cory Conacher. Foote was a late first-round draft pick in the last draft and was playing well on the farm. Conacher was lost in the shuffle on the Red Wings playing limited minutes. Sheppard spent a year in Detroit a few seasons ago netting 67 points in 82 games played. This season he's on an almost point per game pace. He's also signed for another season. So what was old was new again. With the return for Laine the cost for Sheppard was easy to move to fill his spot in the Top 6. Some would say they even improved that spot in the Top 6.

Then things went quiet for a few weeks as the league approached it's "Rental Trade Period". That's when GM Hetherington really turned it up a notch or two or three.

January 13th in a somewhat surprising move, the Red Wings sent Drew Doughty to the Calgary Flames for Sven Andrighetto and PIT 1 27. A huge haul for an elite but UFA eligible dman in Doughty. Andrighetto is currently a top-five rookie in the running for the Calder Trophy with 47 points in 61 games this season and the Pittsburgh first-round pick next year has lottery potential.

Just MINUTES later... 

The Detroit Red Wings traded Melker Karlsson and Esa Lindell to the Carolina Hurricanes for Nikita Zadorov. Nikita a bruising monster of a dman at the ripe age of 25. Zadorov is probably a more natural fit alongside Aaron Ekblad instead of Drew Doughty. So within a few minutes, Detroit traded Drew Doughty and replaced him with a younger potentially better dman. 

In total the two deals look like; Drew Doughty, Melker Karlsson, Esa Lindell for Nikita Zadorov, Sven Andrighetto, PIT 1 27. Sven is outpacing Karlsson in points this season and although Lindell is a promising dman about to break out. A top 5 lottery pick next year is a huge piece. That is a solid days work from GM Hetherington and his team;

"Zadorov was a player we were after all season long. As soon as things got close with Doughty we circled back with Carolina and completed the two deals and were very happy at the end of the day. All respects to Drew who was a complete pro for us with his time here in Detroit we just got a package we couldn't say no to. Melker was one of my favourite second-round draft picks my scouts pushed me to take. His development has been fantastic and he deserves everything he's gotten so far. He alongside Esa will be longtime pro league players. We just view Nikita as a top 10 dman potential in the league and he's not too far from it now." stated GM Hetherington at a press conference shortly after the deal was completed.

Three days later, GM Hetherington completed a blockbuster that shook the entire league. The pro and farmer roster was brimming full of potential and young players ready to take that next step in their game. The team had point per game players and former top picks on the farm playing on the third line. Sometimes you have to cash in your chips when you have an excess, and boy did they ever.

The Detroit Red Wings traded Jonathan Dahlen, Martin Kaut, Michael Matheson, Nick Suzuki, BUF 2026 Rnd 1, and PIT 2027 Rnd 1 to the Buffalo Sabres for Ivan Provorov, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Cale Fleury, NJD 2027 Rnd 3. Provorov and Dubois elite-level young players in the league. Both cornerstone type players for any franchise. But it sure cost a lot but well worth it. Dahlen a speedy forward was viewed as one of the top prospects in the FNHL farm system. Martin Kaut and Nick Suzuki have fantastic potential and the two first-round picks involved in the deal could BOTH be lottery picks this and next year. 

"Every piece we traded has huge potential. Potential my team and I fully believe in. But getting Dubois and Provorov who have already reached their potential and even still have room to grow is a huge win for us. Traded a lot of maybes albeit strong maybes for some sure things. Ivan is 23 and Pierre-Luc is only 22. We are not getting older veterans here. These two still fit the ultimate rebuild plan. Huge day in our franchise's history." stated GM Hetherington after the deal was made official.

The next days leading up to deadline day. Saw Detroit make three more moves. They sent Jonathan Bernier, Patrick Harper, VAN 2027 Rnd 2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Eddie Lack who's an upcoming RFA and having a decent year as a backup. They also traded veteran MA Cliche to the New York Rangers for two second-round draft picks. They then filled his hole with a huge upgrade by getting Quinton Howden from the New York Islanders for three second-round draft picks.

"At the end of 2020, we held a meeting with ownership and every person on my staff to take a long hard look at where our franchise was and where we wanted to be. We needed to get better defensively, needed an upgrade on our backup goaltender and we needed to upgrade our forward group. But all while not straying from our rebuilding plan. We brought in some big pro youthful pieces in Zadorov, Dubois and Provorov who will be Red Wings each for 8+ years and top-line type players too. We brought in some veteran help to push for the playoffs as well in Sheppard and Howden. Then just as important, we replenished some of the youthful pieces we used to get some of these players. Sven Andrighetto, Boris Katchouk, Alexander Romanov are fantastic future pieces as well who will be long-term Red Wings. I wouldn't change one thing we did in the last 23 days." stated GM Hetherington

It was an interesting in and out to watch as GM Hetherington flipped this team around. Out is Laine, in is Sheppard to fill his spot. Out is Doughty, in is Zadorov. Out is Melker Karlsson, in is Sven Andrighetto. Out is MA Cliche, in is Quinton Howden. Add in Dubois, Provorov, Lack and more. This teams been upgrade at all positions for the now and for the future as well.

For the full list of move in and out over the last 23 days;

IN: Nikita Zadorov, Ivan Provorov, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Sven Andrighetto, James Sheppard, Eddie Lack, Boris Katchouk, Alexander Romanov, Cale Fleury, DET 2029 Rnd 2, NJD 2027 Rnd 3, $7,000,000

OUT: Drew Doughty, Patrik Laine, Marc Andre Cliché, Melker Karlsson, Esa Lindell, Jonathan Dahlen, Martin Kaut, Michael Matheson, Nolan Foote, Cory Conacher, Jonathan Bernier, Patrick Harper, WSH 2026 Rnd 2, NSH 2027 Rnd 2, $1,000,000,

The Red Wings also moved from 10th in the East to now sitting in 5th and 4th is within range for the rest of the season. Quite a changeover and the team is responding.