That's deadline value though, the teams buying at the deadline are going all in for a cup run. Neither Carolina or Detroit are going all in, they want to address their needs. Therefore a trade involving players instead of picks makes more sense.
And I disagree that Athanasiou, Svechnikov, and Helm are worth jack squat. That's an overly pessimistic view.
Some additional quotes from the Canes board (
my explanations in italics):
"Oh man I hope this (
Erik Karlsson possibly signing with Tampa Bay) comes true. If I was Waddell I'd be licking my chops waiting for panicking GMs to call on Faulk/Skinner."
"Detroit - I'm sure they'd love to give us AA for Faulk, I'd tell them "get ****ed" if that's the best they can offer. Won't move Larkin."
"Just because Chicago and Detroit are the two teams being discussed in the tweet:
AA = Artem Anisimov = Center for Chicago
AA = Andreas Athanasiou = Big, Fast LW for Detroit (the one of leveled Lack a year or so back)
Athanasiou for TVR (
Trevor Van Riemsdyk; a 3rd pairing defenseman who went 3-13-16 in 79 games last year) is a solid deal for both sides. Not sure the Canes are interested in such a minor swap though. I don't move Faulk for either of those options."
Carolina is dealing from a position of strength. They don't HAVE to move Faulk at all, certainly not quickly. Once Karlsson gets dealt, it's very possible that the market will only increase for a 2nd pairing defenseman, and I've yet to hear a single fan outside of the Wings boards have any degree of interest in Darren Helm, Evgeny Svechnikov, or Andreas Athanasiou that would suggest a deal like this could get done (unless a 1st round pick was also stapled to it).