Red Wings Acquire David Legwand
Dobber Sports
2014-03-05
Fantasy Impact: The Nashville Predators have traded centerman and career-Pred David Legwand to the Detroit Red Wings for Patrick Eaves, prospect Calle Jarnkrok and a third-round draft pick.
The Red Wings get: an experienced second-line center who can chip in at both ends. Legwand is having the second best offensive season of his career. With Henrik Zetterberg out for the regular season, Legwand should be able to continue his pace.
The Preds get: a decent depth player/reserve player who gets hurt a lot. But that was just the Wings pushing off their useless contract. The Preds really did this for the prospect and pick. Jarnkrok is a really good prospect with upside, but he had indicated that he will be going back to Sweden next year. However, with the organizational change, it’s likely that he will remain in North America and the Preds will give him a fair shot at a roster spot next year.
For more on Jarnkrok – click here.
Fantasy Players Impacted: Legwand’s value remains static. It would go down, had Zetterberg been healthy, but with Zetterberg out Legwand can continue to see decent ice time and power-play time. The loser here is Stephen Weiss, who returns from injury with an opportunity to move back up the depth chart…only to see Legwand come in and take it. He can still get back to his 60-point ways if he is truly healthy, but he’ll have to work a lot harder for it.
In Nashville, some power-play ice time opens up for Craig Smith, who has been robbed of it this season when he’s been their best offensive option. It will be interesting to see if his offense shows further improvement. With Legwand gone, it’s possible that we see Colin Wilson or Smith moved back to center and it’s likely that Filip Forsberg is recalled.
Fantasy Players this helps, in order:
1. Smith
2. Forsberg
3. Jarnkrok
Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:
1. Weiss