Red Wings need to avoid a Tony DeAngelo trade

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders | Bruce Bennett/GettyImagesThe Detroit Red Wings find themselves in an enviable yet complicated position—an excess of defensemen. As they chart their path toward becoming a serious playoff contender, roster balance will be paramount.

However, a recently proposed trade with the New York Islanders—sending Erik Gustafsson and a 2026 third-round pick in exchange for right-handed defenseman Tony DeAngelo—presents more problems than solutions.

On paper, plausible. in practice, problematic

At first glance, the logic is sound. Detroit lacks right-handed defensemen, and DeAngelo, when active, has demonstrated the ability to contribute offensively. But therein…