Detroit to Make Moves

After losing back-to-back games last week to two of the league’s doormats – the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs – it should become apparent to G.M. Ken Holland that the Detroit Red Wings line-up needs some tinkering before the deadline.

One loss to one of these also-rans should not set off alarm bells, but two in a row is not indicative of a team about to embark on a Stanley Cup run. Follow up these two losses to a loss to the defending champs, the Anaheim Ducks, and one has to assume Ken Holland is thinking about potential improvements to his roster.

After watching his forwards get pushed off the puck on the forecheck by a Leafs defense that is average on their best days, maybe Ken Holland was thinking a big forward who is hard to knock off the puck is what the trade deadline ordered.

Then, after Mats Sundin scored the game-tying goal to force his team into overtime, Holland might’ve been considering going the arts and crafts route and holding a sign from the press box reading “Waive it Mats!” One has got to think that the Detroit Red Wings line-up would be pushed over the edge with the addition of a dominant and experienced forward such as Sundin.

Also, Ken Holland has a large group of young defense prospects that may interest the Leafs, such as 2007 first-rounder Brendan Smith, and 2005 first-rounder Jakub Kindl. Throw in a young forward like Jiri Hudler, and another first-round draft pick and maybe there is a possible deal.

This is all just a little healthy, pre-deadline speculation.

However, this much can be assumed to be true: if the team running away with the regular season crown is in need of some fine-tuning, you can expect it to be a very busy couple weeks leading up to the Febuary 26th deadline.