Two quality veterans drawing interest as their team falls out of the playoffs.

You can bet at least one of these guys will be traded.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 7 years ago
Two quality veterans drawing interest as their team falls out of the playoffs.

The Detroit Red Wings find themselves in a very unfamiliar position, outside of the playoffs and looking in.

We have reached a stage of the season where now most, even die hard Wings fans, expect that the team will not make the playoffs this season and as a result will approach the National Hockey League's trade deadline as sellers. As a result there has been rumored interest in some veteran assets on the Wings roster, although according to Helen St. James of the Detroit Free Press, two names stand out:

They play two contenders this weekend – Stanley Cup hopefuls that could have interest in rental players such as pending unrestricted free agents Thomas Vanek and Brendan Smith. Other trade partners include Anaheim (which needs scoring help) and Chicago.

In the case of Vanek in particular it seems like a trade is inevitable, he has frankly just been too good for general manager Ken Holland to risk losing him to free agency for nothing. With 14 goals and 22 assists on the season in just 44 games Vanek will likely be one of the most desired rentals at the deadline.

Smith on the other hand hasn't had as strong a year as Vanek, but nonetheless his wealth of NHL experience as well as his expiring contract will make him the kind of asset Holland can work with at the deadline to secure assets for the future.

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