The Detroit Red Wings are in talks with the Calgary Flames about a potential trade for defenceman Jay Bouwmeester, a team source confirmed to Michigan-based news website MLive.com.
According to MLive.com's Brendan Savage, the Red Wings - who lost the services of Brad Stuart and now-retired blueliner Nicklas Lidstrom - are looking at the trade route because no top defencemen remain available through free agency.
Bouwmeester, 28, has been rumoured to be on the block after the Flames signed Dennis Wideman to a five-year, $26.25 million deal earlier this summer. Bouwmeester's salary hit will be his $6.68 million for each of the next two seasons.
Bouwmeester was Florida's first-round pick in the 2002 NHL Draft and played six seasons with the Panthers before being traded to Calgary three summers ago.
In 717 career games with the Flames and Panthers, he has 65 goals and 285 points.
