The Red Wings did it -- they acquired one of those mid-30's, stay-at-home defensemen for the playoff push. Just like the days of yore -- before the new CBA swooped in and tried to steal all our trade deadline fun.
Cory Cross, 35 and a card-carrying member of the NHL Journeymen Club, was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a fourth-round pick in the 2007 entry draft.
Cross is a typical Red Wings deadline day acquisition: tough, rugged, unheralded.
And old.
Cross: An old journeyman -- so what else is new?
It just wouldn't be deadline day for Red Wings GM Kenny Holland if he didn't grab someone well into their 30's.
In another move, Detroit traded D Jamie Rivers, who had no role with the team, to Phoenix for a seventh round pick in 2006.
Cross is a veteran of over 600 NHL games, and has never scored more than seven goals in any season. But he wasn't acquired for his offense. At his best, Cory Cross can be the physical presence sorely needed with the end of Jiri Fischer's season. At worst, Cross will be a depth guy that coach Mike Babcock can scratch on any given night.
But don't pooh-pooh this trade. Remember in 2002, when the Red Wings faced a Game 5 in the Finals without Fischer, who'd been suspended? In stepped deadline day acquisition Jiri Slegr, who played well and filled in admirably. The Wings won the Cup that night, mainly because of their tough defensive play.
Cross started the season with Edmonton before being traded to Pittsburgh in late January.
You have my permission to say that a Red Wings opponent hit by Cross has been "Cross-checked."
Sorry.
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