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Wings GM Holland wants top talent, not depth

Ken Holland

Unlike most of his counterparts around the NHL, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland is all stocked up on defensemen.

In fact, the Wings have so many bodies on the blue line that they were able to send Kent Huskins to Philadelphia this weekend.

So if Holland is going to go out and get anything before Wednesday’s trade deadline, it won’t be depth on defense.

What might it be then?

“If we can do a legitimate trade to acquire a player that we think is a legitimate top-six forward, or a legitimate top-four defenseman, then we’re going to look,” said Holland, per the Detroit News.

One name that’s popped up repeatedly in trade speculation is Calgary’s Jay Bouwmeester. Yes, he’s a defenseman. No, he’s not a depth defenseman.

But if Bouwmeester is available, the Wings won’t be the only ones interested.

Another name that’s been bandied about is Edmonton forward Ales Hemsky (though an obvious return the Wings could offer the Oilers doesn’t spring to mind).