On the Detroit Red Wings …
Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: It seems the Red Wings like Jared Coreau over Petr Mrazek at the moment. Jimmy Howard will be ready to return soon. The Wings will have to make a move of some sort when Howard is ready. They’ll likely not be able to move Mrazek before the deadline.
Not many teams are looking for goaltending at the moment – maybe the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames or Winnipeg Jets.
Will Burchfield of CBS Detroit: Red Wings GM Ken Holland yesterday on the trade deadline.
“We’re not going to be a buyer. We’re not going to trade future assets to try to bring in somebody to make us a little better. We’re either going to stand pat or we’re going to see if teams have interest in some of our players. That’s what I’ll work the phone to do here over the next three to four weeks,” Holland told the Jamie and Stoney Show on 97.1 The Ticket on Thursday.
Holland described standing pat as, “You’re sort of in it but you’re not going to waive the white flag and you’re not prepared to play future assets.”
Heading into last night’s action the Red Wings were tied for last in the Eastern Conference, seven points with 11 games before the deadline. If they are out of it, they’ll look to move out some veterans, but it may not be as easy as you’d think. There is the salary cap and if teams want to give up the assets.
Thomas Vanek and Mike Green will draw some interest. Holland said he’ll listen to all offers, but will only make deals if it makes them younger.
Holland has tried for years to land top-pairing defenseman. Those types of players are usually not available for trade.
“If there’s an opportunity to swing a deal to bring in a defensemen that makes us better, my history has been I’ll pull the trigger, I’ll trade future assets. But at the end of the day, I haven’t pulled the trigger because that opportunity has not presented itself,” he said.
“Would you like to upgrade your defense? Absolutely, you’re always looking to upgrade. But I think the reality is you’ve gotta draft it, you’ve gotta develop it and you’ve gotta wait,” said Holland.