Detroit Red Wings add tough forward in Keegan Kolesar via trade

The Detroit Red Wings added size and a right-handed shot to their forward group via a trade.

They acquired Keegan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, July 1, in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick. Kolesar (6 feet 2, 216 pounds) is a tough, forechecking type who wins board battles and finishes his checks.

Kolesar, 29, has spent his entire NHL career with the Knights, appearing in 439 games since making his debut in 2019-20. He recorded personal highs in 2024-25 with 12 goals, 18 assists and 30 points in 82 games. Last season he had six goals and 11 assists, along with a minus-14 rating. He has also logged 77 career playoff games, with 21 of them coming last season, in which he registered one point and a minus-2 rating.

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Kolesar is entering the second year of a three-year deal that carries a $2.5 million annual average value.

Last season he averaged around 11:30 of ice time per game, including about half a minute killing penalties.

Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings add tough forward in Keegan Kolesar via trade