Detroit makes its first move of the 2024 offseason, swinging a trade with the Nashville Predators
Detroit makes its first move of the 2024 offseason, swinging a trade with the Nashville Predators
In the early afternoon today, the Red Wings announced their first move of the 2024 offseason, a trade with the Nashville Predators. Detroit acquired a second round pick in the upcoming draft as well as forward prospect Jesse Kiiskinen in exchange for defensive prospect Andrew Gibson.
To offer some background on the moving parts here, the pick the Red Wings acquired was originally Tampa's, sent to the Predators in the deal that brought Tanner Jeannot to the Lightning. Detroit picked Gibson in the second round of last year's draft (42nd overall), and the 19-year-old spent the '23-24 season in the OHL, putting up 44 points and a +36 rating in 68 games for the Soo Greyhounds.
Kiiskinen, meanwhile, went 68th overall to Nashville in the third round of the 2023 Draft. In its guide to that draft, Elite Prospects wrote "His motor never stops. Kiiskinen makes second and third efforts on the forecheck, catches unsuspecting defencemen on the tracks, and is a diligent defensive player. Kiiskinen scans ahead of puck retrievals and makes plays with pace." He spent this past season playing for the Finnish club Pelicans, playing eight games for the U-20 team (scoring 21 points) and 38 more for the senior team, where he chipped in 10 points.
It wasn't exactly a blockbuster, but Detroit parted with a defense prospect with a relatively low ceiling in exchange for a forward whose profile should perfectly suit its system and some added capital for this weekend's draft. That's a nice piece of business.
Also from THN Detroit
Why Red Wings Fans Don't Need to Worry About Timing of Seider, Raymond Extensions
How Will the Red Wings Replace Patrick Kane?
Report: Red Wings Unlikely to Re-Sign Kane, Working to Hold Onto Gostisbehere, Perron
Red Wings Release '24-25 Preseason Schedule
Report: Red Wings Kicking Tires on Bruins Goaltender
From the Archive: Jim Devellano, the Yzerplan and What it Means "To Have Steve Yzerman in Detroit"