5 notable NHL players who weren’t traded at the deadline

OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 24: Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson (65) tracks the play during second period National Hockey League action between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on February 24, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2 of 6

5. Mike Green (Detroit Red Wings)

This is by far the most baffling name not moved on the list. There is no “holding out for more” for the Red Wings. The veteran puck-moving defenseman is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. The Red Wings risk losing him for nothing or they re-sign him, something they could have done even had they traded him.

In fairness to the Red Wings, this may not be their fault. Green suffered a neck injury on Feb. 15 and hasn’t played since. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland stated that Green’s injury prevented the team from trading him.

Detroit is hopeful that Green will be back in the lineup this weekend. That suggests the injury might not be too bad, but, according to Holland, it was enough to scare teams off. They feared he would not return or the injury would pop up again.

Do you buy that?

There had to be some team out there willing to take a chance on the 32-year-old. Maybe the offers weren’t good enough for Holland’s liking, but he wasn’t in a position to be greedy. With Green headed to unrestricted free agency, he should have jumped at anything. Even if it was a third-round pick. And with the way teams were throwing around draft picks, someone had to offer at least a third-round pick for Green.

Maybe teams were so focussed on Erik Karlsson and Ryan McDonagh they never got around to making a serious offer for Green.

Whatever the case may be, the Red Wings blew it on Monday.

Home/NHL