The Left Wing Lock

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Would the Wings be willing to part with Jiri Hudler or another roster player at the deadline?

With the NHL trade deadline approaching, there are no shortage of rumors involving the Detroit Red Wings. Ken Holland is on record stating that he is looking to add to his defensive depth. Other analysts have speculated that Detroit is pursuing a top six forward and until recently that speculation centered on Edmonton’s Ales Hemsky. The latest speculation is that the Red Wings, who have a number of skilled forwards, are hoping to land a forward with a bit more grit to his game.

With Jimmy Howard’s broken finger sidelining him up to two weeks and Ty Conklin’s lackluster play, adding goaltending depth may be at the top of Detroit’s wish list. The Red Wings are one serious injury to Howard away from having a longer than anticipated offseason.

While trade deadline speculation can be entertaining, the reality is that unless Detroit is willing to give up a key prospect, high draft choice(s), or current roster players a big move is unlikely. The past few years have shown the price for players at the deadline can be high even for a rental player. While the Wings have some needs heading into the deadline, they won’t trade away key assets and draft picks that could damage their long term depth. If General Manager, Ken Holland, does make a move on or before the February 27th trade deadline, expect the deal to be modest and likely won’t include names like Tuomo Ruutu or Jeff Carter.