Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 3:26pm

WINGS GET DETROIT NATIVE LEGWAND

The Detroit Red Wings acquired center David Legwand from the Nashville Predators for winger Patrick Eaves, forward Calle Jarnkrok and a conditional third-round draft pick in 2014.

What does it give the Detroit Red Wings
The Wings have serious issues at the center position at present time, with {P Henrik Zetterberg}, {P Pavel Datsyuk}, {P Darren Helm} and {P Stephen Weiss} all currently injured. Enter Legwand, a hometown player who has been a nemesis for years in Nashville. Now that the Wings are in the Eastern Conference, a deal was more likely to happen. Legwand is a potential unrestricted free agent this summer but the club has to feel pretty confident that they can keep him in the fold. After all, they paid a lot to get him.

What does it give the Nashville Predators
Eaves is a typical Predators player who works very hard and has sound defensive instincts, so he should fit in fairly well. However, the key to this deal from a Nashville standpoint is Jarnkrok, a creative offensive player who has been producing points everywhere he's played. He's only 22 and should be a big part of the team's future. They need more offensive types like this. The third rounder will also help.

Fantasy impact
Legwand's fantasy value should get a fairly significant boost as long as he's in Detroit (and especially as long as several other centers are out of the Red Wings lineup). Jarnkrok suddenly gets a better opportunity to play in the NHL with Nashville, though expectations need to be tempered here as the Preds are a defense-first outfit.