from Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News,

The Red Wings welcomed more key pieces of their future Monday, and by now, you might recognize their names — Second-Round Pick, Second-Round Pick, Second-Round Pick.

Dramatic? Not really. Impressive? Meh. A necessary part of a painful process? Yeah.

This is the Wings’ new normal at the trade deadline, unloading instead of reloading. It’s been three years, and while they’ve added fresh young talent, progress has been slow. Sorry to tell you, it’s not likely to speed up, either.

GM Ken Holland grabbed a pair of second-round picks, as well as a third-rounder that could become a No. 2, and young defenseman Madison Bowey in separate trades for Gustav Nyquist, 29, and Nick Jensen, 28. Those were fair deals that fit the plan, exchanging expiring contracts for solid assets. Holland was unable to move goalie Jimmy Howard or any other veterans — Thomas Vanek, Luke Glendening, Niklas Kronwall — which was disappointing but not surprising. There wasn’t much demand for them, or for a 34-year-old goalie on an expiring contract.

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