from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

The Detroit Red Wings pulled off a last-minute coup in unloading a big contract in exchange for what could be significant rebuilding help.

The Wings traded forward Tomas Tatar to the Vegas Golden Knights just before Monday’s deadline, in exchange for a first-round pick in 2018, a second-round pick in 2019, and a third-round pick in 2021.

“This was about the future,” general manager Ken Holland said. “This was about creating opportunity for younger people in the organization that we think are ready.”

Holland named Tyler Bertuzzi as one such candidate, along with prospects Evgeny Svechnikov and, maybe next season, Michael Rasmussen, the ninth overall pick from last summer.

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