The Carolina Hurricanes completed a minor trade today, sending Kyle Wood to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenseman Oliwer Kaski.
I can’t say I’ve seen Kaski play but this seems a bit like a “why not” kind of deal. Kaski is a big, 24-year-old right-shot defenseman who posted outstanding numbers in Finland last year, scoring 51 points in 59 games (again, as a defenseman) but his numbers aren’t anything special in Grand Rapids so far this year.
Kyle Wood is in the same boat as a big right-handed defenseman (albeit a year younger), who’ hasn't really taken the step some may have expected him to. The Hurricanes acquired him in the summer in exchange for Trevor Carrick.
My opinion is that in a deal like this, the tie usually goes to the team getting the younger player (for the sake of development potential) but I’m not sure a year is going to make much of a difference here. Either way, obviously not a blockbuster.