RUMOR: Top-Four Defenseman

The Detroit Red Wings are off to a great start to their 2016-2017 regular season, winning four games in a row en route to a 4-2-0 record thus far. There were fears that the defensive corps would not be up to the task of defending well in their own zone and providing offense when the time came to pinch or cycle the puck effectively during the power play.

 

Reportedly, general manager Ken Holland is fully aware of the situation at the blue line, and has been actively shopping for a top-four defenseman for a few years now. Recently, there have been rumors regarding the Winnipeg Jets’ Jacob Trouba, though the demands have been high enough for Holland not to give in as of yet.

 

There is, however, another name that continues to pop up in trade rumors with the Red Wings: Cam Fowler.

 

The Detroit Free Press reports that management took in the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils game last Tuesday in order to get a closer look at what Fowler is capable of. The rumor is that the asking price for the 24-year-old defenseman involves Anthony Mantha and potentially, Evgeny Svechnikov, both of whom many see as long-term parts of the Red Wings’ offense moving forward.

 

While there’s no telling how deep the conversations between Holland and Ducks general manager Bob Murray have been just yet, fans will be reluctant to give away any of those prospects in exchange for Fowler, as the Red Wings will need to clear a little more salary cap space in order to make room for the blue-liner.