The Red Wings claimed Andreas Englund off waivers from the Flames on Saturday, adding a veteran defenseman to the blue line days before the opener.
Elliotte Friedman reported the claim, and Nashville grabbed William Trudeau from the Rangers less than a minute later.
That timing carries a little irony. Englund suited up for the Predators in each of the last two seasons.
The 30-year-old carries a $900,000 cap hit and is headed for unrestricted free agency next summer.
The Senators drafted him 40th overall in 2014.
He has since played NHL games for Ottawa, Colorado, Chicago, Los Angeles and Nashville before Calgary put him on the wire.
So what exactly are the Red Wings getting?
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Todd McLellan adds a big body to the Red Wings blue line
His best NHL season came with the Kings in 2023-24, when he dressed for 82 games.
He put up 10 points that year and added 81 penalty minutes.
His only NHL playoff action came that spring, with one assist in five games.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, the Swede isn't there to run a power play.
Before coming to North America, he played parts of three seasons with Djurgardens IF back home.
Most of last season came in the AHL, where he posted 13 points in 52 games for Milwaukee.
This is a low-risk claim that makes sense. Veteran depth on a one-year deal is exactly what a blue line needs in late September.
Claiming a journeyman defenseman is like adding a utility knife to the junk drawer. Nobody brags about it, but everybody reaches for it eventually.
It's been a noisy week in Detroit. Dylan Larkin's trade list is reportedly up to around eight teams.
The Red Wings host Columbus tonight, sitting 2-0-1 in exhibition play, then open October 2 against the Rangers.
The Flames, meanwhile, lose a depth piece on the same day they visit Edmonton.
For Englund, it's another new locker room. Whether it turns into a real roster spot or just a pit stop could get settled before the Rangers come to town.
Can Andreas Englund crack the Red Wings lineup before opening night?
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