How a headache led the Red Wings to bring David Legwand home

The search was on for a defenseman, and then Darren Helm got a headache. And then Pavel Datsyuk saw another doctor, and the news just got worse.

The Detroit Red Wings front-office staff was gathered at general manager Ken Holland’s house Tuesday night when Helm became the latest center to suffer an injury, forcing a change in priority before Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline. The Wings will have Grosse Pointe Woods’ David Legwand available Thursday when they host the Colorado Avalanche – because Datsyuk won’t be available, because Helm won’t be available, because Henrik Zetterberg won’t be available, because Stephen Weiss won’t be available.

The trade came at a cost – the Predators got previously highly touted prospect Calle Jarnkrok, deemed expendable by the team because of the development of Riley Sheahan and Joakim Andersson, and because of the possibility Jarnkrok would return to his native Sweden if he wasn’t guaranteed to make next year’s NHL squad. The Predators also got a third-round draft pick that will become a second-rounder if the Wings extend their playoff streak to 23 straight seasons, along with little-used forward Patrick Eaves.

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