NHL Trade Rumors: As Long As Detroit Red Wings Keep This Up, No Moves Are Needed

It's hard to believe that, just over a week ago, the idea that the Wings could be in the thick of trade rumors this week seemed reasonable, even probable.

An embarrassingly bad home game against the Nashville Predators seemed to epitomize what had been a rather lackluster 2011 season for the Wings.

After an up-and-down January, the Wings started off February in terrible fashion.

They needed seven goals to down the utterly dismal Ottawa Senators, then followed that up by being shutout in two consecutive games, looked better in beating the Rangers 3-2, then fell completely apart in the aforementioned game against Nashville.

Offensive inconsistency, shoddy defense and leaky goaltending were all trends that seemed more likely to continue than to self-correct and reverse.

Such trends lead most NHL GMs to the inevitable conclusion that only a major shake-up via trade could help right a team's collective ship.

And though Wings GM Ken Holland is far from the reactionary, nervous type, even he would not let his team flounder (as they had for over a month) without making at least one serious trade move.

A little over a week ago, the Wings were at a tipping point: on one side, a continuation of failure; and on the other side, sudden success.

Now, the Wings are tipping heavily to the latter side. How things can change.

Currently on a three game winning streak—at the expense of two top teams in the Eastern Conference, no less—things are looking decidedly and abruptly sunny for the Red Wings.

The sunburns many players sported Thursday night while playing Tampa Bay were just as attributable to the sudden brightness of their future as they were to the fishing trip the team took the day before.

The Red Wings, at least for now, are back and ready to win.

They have returned to playing solid hockey in all three zones; the offense has exploded for 16 goals in three games; and defense and goaltending has limited the goals-against to five.

Pavel Datsyuk is looking every bit the superstar he was before losing over a month to a broken hand, Brad Stuart's first game back from a broken jaw on Thursday night reminded everyone just how important he is to this team. Jimmy Howard returns to form as well, looking ready to take this team deep into post-season territory.

More promising still is the impending return of veteran center Mike Modano, scheduled sometime around the end of this month, with veteran goalie Chris Osgood due back shortly after.

Adding a veteran forward and back-up goalie at the deadline?

That sounds like a typical Ken Holland move to me.

Though the days leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline are packed with excitement and anticipation, don't expect the Red Wings to be wrapped up in any of it. These internal additions to the team suggest that the Red Wings will remain out of the rumor mill.

When other teams are busy trying to make their teams better, Detroit will likely be focused on simply staying the best.

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