Detroit Red Wings: Latest Trade Rumors, Free-Agent News, Post-Draft Analysis

With the NHL draft come and gone the Red Wings did as everyone expected them to do.

Fortifying their future with prospects is nothing new to Ken Holland and the rest of the Detroit front office. The draft provided very little suspense in itself with Nail Yakupov going to the Edmonton Oilers.

Detroit's first pick wasn't until midway through the second round, and Martin Frk, though talented, won't crack the Wings' roster anytime soon.

The biggest news of the two-day draft were two blockbuster trades. Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes and the trade between Philadelphia and Toronto swapping James van Riemsdyk for Luke Schenn.

Uniting brothers was the theme for the weekend, but there were bigger maneuvers swirling behind the scenes.

While the Penguins were publicly "trying" to sign Staal to a long-term deal, denying any interest in trading him, was anyone really that surprised that he went to Carolina to play with older brother Eric?

What the bigger picture shows is that Pittsburgh is now a major player in the free-agent bidding wars. GM Ray Shero drafted Ryan Suter when Shero was with the Predators, and has been trying to trade for Suter's negotiating rights.

Holland has never traded for a player's exclusive negotiating rights, but as noted by mlive.com has said that he might make that exception this year for an inside track on coveted free agents Zach Parise or Ryan Suter.

Bobby Ryan of the Ducks made a public declaration of disgust for his employer and could be on the move too. Philadelphia and the Rangers seem to be the most likely destination for him though.

Roberto Luongo and Rick Nash are still on the rosters of their incumbent teams, and it is believed that they will stay there until after the onset of free agency to determine the actual trade value.

Both players have publicly crossed teams off of the possible destination list as they both have no-trade clauses as leverage.

The Red Wings still have to feel they are in a great position to sign either Parise or Suter and possibly both. July 1st can't come soon enough for some fans, but let's try to remember that if one of the top two free agents signs somewhere else, there will still be hope for Hockeytown.