Not that far of a reach as
a) one or both teams may start sliding as the cream starts to rise (I'm not sure there's room for both DET or BOS with the way some teams are playing. NYR, NYI, MON, WAS, PIT, TBL are locks. With the way Florida, Ottawa, Toronto, and Winnipeg have looked lately, it's going to be a struggle for both teams to make the wild card.
b) more importantly, both teams have holes to fill; more than the Rangers. Perhaps DET likes the idea of adding JMoore on the cheap along with some NHL-ready prospects (ie Miller).
Detroit's defense is all out of whack.
Trading Helm and Kindl and brining in Miller, JMoore, and picks/prospects clears more than 3M which DET will need for what seems like their inevitable trade for a top RHD like Tyler Myers or Byfuglien. BOS could also afford to part with UFA-to-be Carl Soderberg if it means improving their team / filling another need / clearing space for a separate re-tool / series of trades that improve their team. Their mojo is missing and they could certainly benefit from some sort of shake-up.
It's a reach, sure. But it's not out of the realm of possibility.
That's why I would inquire about those players and see what their GMs are looking to do. Especially in Helm's case: with the emergence and accelerated development of guys like Nyquist, Tatar, Sheahan, Jurco, etc... Helm becomes expendable in DET. Abelkader and Drew Miller have become mainstays there as well and both are significantly cheaper than Helm.
I'm not great on exact values for trades, but I'd be looking at something like
JT Miller, J Moore, one of [Haggerty/Kristo/Allen/McIlrath], and one of our 2nd round draft picks
for Helm and one of [Kindl / Smith]
Hagelin Hayes Helm
as our 3rd line.
Kindl / Klein
as our bottom pair.
No weaknesses throughout the entire lineup.
