Detroit Red Wings’ GM Steve Yzerman, embracing an objective to be a tougher team, acquired 218-pound Las Vegas Golden Knights winger Keegan Kolesar who posted 270 hits last season.
Kolesar, 28, has been a regular for the Golden Knights for six seasons, and has averaged 262 hits per season over the past five years. He ranked seventh in the NHL in hits last season.
Yzerman gave up a third-round draft pick and a seventh rounder to land the fourth-line energy forward. He has two seasons remaining on a contract that pays him $2.5 million per season. He has averaged seven goals a season in Vegas with a high of 12 in 2024-25.
He was one of four veterans acquired by Detroit Wednesday, joining forward UFA signees Viktor Arvidsson, defenseman Jacob Bryson, and goaltender Daniil Tarasov.
Kolesar helped Vegas win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in 2023. He posted five points, 50 penalty minutes and 79 hits in that postseason.