At the end of the 2025-26 season, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said his top priority was to make the team tougher to play against.
Well, here we have the answer. Today, the Red Wings acquired Keegan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2029 third round pick and 2027 seventh round pick.
Keegan Kolesar traded to Detroit for a 3rd in 2029 and a 7th in 2027.
July 1, 2026This trade is about as low risk as it can get for some extra depth. The Golden Knights free up salary, while the Red Wings add a legitimate physical threat for their fourth line.
This is Detroit's seventh signing today. So far, the team has re-signed Carter Mazur, added forward Viktor Arvidsson, signed goaltender Daniil Tarasov, added Grand Rapids depth in Jacob Bryson, Cameron Butler and Wilmer Skoog.
What the Red Wings get from Keegan Kolesar
Kolesar is a high-energy, hard-hitting forward who brings bruising energy to every game. He finished off last season with six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 82 games. But scoring isn't the name of Kolesar's game: his 270 hits were seventh in the NHL. He's the kind of player that's going to stand up for his teammates when they're down.
The Red Wings have been in dire need of a forward like Kolesar for years. When soon-to-be-former captain Dylan Larkin went unconscious on the ice a few seasons back, the only player to stand up for him was veteran David Perron. Last season, when teams like the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators bullied the Red Wings, they didn't have anyone strong enough to fight back.
Now they do.
Kolesar is never going to be a leading goal-scorer or an elite passer. What he brings, though, is a very important part of the game that's often overlooked. Now, when the Red Wings go up against tougher lineups, they'll have a weapon that can fight back. No longer will the Red Wings collapse and get jumpy. Now, they've got an answer to all the questions at hand.
Best of all, he comes with a little extra term. Kolesar is signed through 2026-27 and 2027-28, giving the Red Wings two years of cost control with their bruising new forward.
At right wing, it's entirely possible Kolesar leapfrogs Mason Appleton, pushing the recent signee down to the extra forward spot. That said, time will tell where Kolesar plays in the lineup.
This is an extremely encouraging signing for the Red Wings from an energy perspective. Kolesar will be a fan favorite in no time.
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