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Wings of two minds as trade deadline approaches |
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UPDATE - Red Wings deal two prospects (D Mattias Backman, C Mattias Janmark) and 2105 2nd round pick to Stars for LW Erik Cole and 2015 conditional 3rd round pick. Pick goes back to Stars if Wings make Eastern Conference final and Cole plays 50 % of games.
If the Detroit Red Wings opt to make a move before Monday’s NHL trade deadline – and that remains a big if at this point – it might not be the move that everyone is expecting.
All along the theory is that the Wings are searching for defensive help, but with Johan Franzen (concussion) likely done for the year, coupled with more recent injuries to captain Henrik Zetterberg (concussion-like symptoms) and Darren Helm (upper body), Detroit’s focus may have shifted to acquiring some depth at forward.
“We’re exploring if there’s players out there that would make our team better,” Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “We’re not looking for a lateral moves.
“If there’s only lateral moves or the price is higher than we’re prepared to pay, we won’t do anything.”
Prior to the start of the season, members of the Detroit brass quietly acknowledged that if Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk regained their health and enjoyed big years, if goalie Jimmy Howard rebounded from a poor 2013-14 season, if depth players like Helm again became factors and the Wings’ younger players took another step forward in their progress and the club was a legitimate contender in the East, then they would look to do something dramatic prior to the trade deadline.
In past seasons, when they were certain that they had a chance to win it all and they’ve been afforded the opportunity to make a major move to acquire a difference maker, the Wings haven’t hesitated to pull the trigger – think Chris Chelios, Dominik Hasek, Robert Lang, Brendan Shanahan.
“If we can find a player to upgrade us, to give us another dimension, we’ll do it,” Holland said.
As the clock winds down, there’s just one problem with seeking to do that – there doesn’t appear to be a dramatic move out there to be made.
What the Wings seem to know is that of the defensemen available, there’s little available that would be a significant upgrade over what is already here.
Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf, a much talked about possibility in recent days, would upgrade Detroit’s back end, but he’s miscast as a first pair defender and should skate in a No. 2 pairing. With Kyle Quincey (bone chips in ankle) about to return from injury, the Wings are quite satisfied with their second pairing of Quincey and Danny DeKeyser.
There’s also the issue of Phaneuf’s $7 million cap hit. Defenseman DeKeyser and Brendan Smith and forwards Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm and Gustav Nyquist are key pieces of Detroit’s puzzle due for new deals in the next two years, so taking on Phaneuf’s contract could clog up Detroit’s salary-cap arteries.
Edmonton’s Jeff Petry has never appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game and Phoenix’s Zbynek Michalek is simply Alexey Marchenko with more experience. New Jersey’s Marek Zidlicky brings high-octane offensively but his defensive decision making is questionable.
Are any of them really a significant upgrade over what Detroit currently has along the blue-line?
The Wings are impressed with the work of Marchenko and not just because he scored his first NHL goal in Saturday’s comeback win at Nashville.
It’s when you don’t notice him that Marchenko is the most impressive. Take a closer look during Detroit’s next game and realize how rarely there’s an opposition scoring chance when he is on the ice.
The Wings know they can count on the reliable Xavier Ouellet and there’s also Brian Lashoff, who’s played solidly since being demoted to AHL Grand Rapids.
“We feel pretty good about our depth, the development of our young players,” Holland said.
There aren’t nearly as many NHL-ready forwards in the Detroit system and that’s why considering the recent injury conerns an upgrade there could be in order. Someone like Dallas left-winger Erik Cole, 36, an impending UFA who bring size (6-2, 205 lbs.) and the ability to put the puck in the net, might be a target. His 18 goals are the most Cole has netted in a single season since he tallied 35 for Montreal in 2011-12. He could take over Franzen’s role as a big forward, but as a rental player, the price will have to be right.
“If we can find a player who brings a dimension and upgrade us, we’re interested,” Holland said.
The Wings braintrust will gather Sunday and Monday right up until the deadline, going over options and analyzing both the cost of potential acquisitions and the price they are willing to pay.
Holland admits as the deadline looms, he’s still of two minds on what to do.
“One minute I think I shouldn’t do anything, the next minute I think these guys have played their asses off for 60 games maybe I should help them a little bit,” Holland said. “But help can’t just be a body.”
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