Detroit Red Wings acquire towering beast defenseman: A proposal has just been made

Shipping Seattle Kraken's 6'7», 252-pound blue-liner Jamie Oleksiak to Hockeytown in exchange for promising prospect Shai Buium is the kind of move that could finally address the Red Wings' needs on the blue line.

Heavy.com floated the scenario, pitching Oleksiak, who's entering the final year of his deal at $4.6 million, as the perfect addition to Detroit's top four. The massive, left-shot defenseman is exactly the kind of player GM Steve Yzerman hinted at in his recent press conference: a rugged, steady presence to stabilize a defensive corps that's struggled to find consistency.

Oleksiak, 32, tallied four goals, 13 assists, and 17 points with a modest -2 rating in 82 games last season with the Kraken.

Over his 680-game NHL career, he's accumulated 40 goals, 106 assists, and 146 points, all while maintaining a -6 plus-minus. More importantly, he led Seattle in blocked shots, proving his value isn't always on the scoresheet.

In return, Seattle would get Shai Buium, a 22-year-old defenseman selected 36th overall in 2021. Buium posted 25 points in 67 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins last year, showing flashes of being a future NHL regular. Kraken GM Jason Botterill is eager to inject more youth into his lineup, and this trade would do exactly that.

For the Red Wings, currently holding the NHL's second-longest playoff drought, adding Oleksiak is a no-brainer. He'd likely slot into Detroit's second pairing, potentially alongside Jacob Bernard-Docker or even rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka if he cracks the roster. The combination of Oleksiak's brute force with Sandin-Pellikka's offensive instincts could be the blend Yzerman's been hunting for.

With ample cap space and a clear organizational mandate to end years of frustration, this proposed deal is the type of bold maneuver Detroit fans have been waiting for. If it comes to fruition, expect Little Caesars Arena to be rocking with hope again next spring.