Red Wings Trade Rumors: “Looking For Someone Smelly”

The Detroit Red Wings are hot. Currently riding a five-game win streak, they find themselves firmly entrenched in a playoff spot, with the top Wild Card position in the East, and seven points clear of the teams chasing one of those two spots. As we barrel full speed towards the trade deadline, it appears that GM Steve Yzerman is clearly looking to add to his team, and according to insider Jeff Marek, he wants what can only be described as a playoff-type defenceman, but Marek's source put it in much more colorful terms:

Someone I spoke with said, 'Don't be surprised if he goes after someone on the back end.' This person (added), 'don't be surprised if he gets someone who's smelly.' I said, 'what do you mean by smelly? He answered, 'hard to play against.'

It's certainly an intriguing thought, especially considering the depth of quality blueliners the Red Wings already have.

"Where are they going to find room for another defenseman?" asked Marek. But again, the source reiterated that Yzerman will be trying to find "one type of defenceman specifically. They don't have that one guy that's nails to play against."

Marek then postulated on a couple of ideal candidates that would fit that mold, and threw out the names Nikita Zadorov and Matt Dumba. 

The 6'6", 250-pound Zadorov was already moved once this season, when the Vancouver Canucks acquired him from the Calgary Flames. But from all accounts, it just doesn't sound like Vancouver wants to flip him. Probably for the same reasons that Yzerman would want him. The Canucks are, rightfully, hoping for a long playoff run.

Dumba isn't having his best season this year with the Arizona Coyotes, but he's a tough defender who isn't afraid to drop the gloves if necessary. He's handed out 137 hits so far this season, a shade more than Zadorov. 

Both are impending UFAs, and would presumably fit this Yzerman desire for someone who's "tough as nails", or, yes, even... 'smelly' to play against. 

Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports