DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have been seeking a veteran, right-handed shooting defenseman who can provide some offense since the end of last season.
They were unable to pick one up in free agency last summer and could not work out a trade for such a player prior to the beginning of the 2014-15 season.
But despite having an entire defensive corps of left-handed shooters for most of the season -- Alexey Marchenko, a right-hand shot, was called up from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League and played a few games recently -- Detroit has a 35-15-11 record, good for 81 points and third place in the Atlantic Division.
The Red Wings' play and development over the season and their 4-1-1 record on a just-completed six-game western road trip, convinced general manager Ken Holland his team had earned the opportunity to get a little help from the outside.