Why would the wings do that?

Detroit declines.

He is young, but Rasmussen is a 30-point player. The Wings take on one year of Zucker (where he probably puts up more points than Rasmussen and he can be flipped at deadline), they get a decent prospect in Legare and add a top 4 dman in Pettersson.

Do the Wings rate Rasmussen that much? He was the only one that worked with the cap.

Pettersson is worth a 3rd.
Zucker has negative value (about a 2nd).
Légaré has been underwhelming in the AHL and doesn't look good so far.

That package would be valued at Future Considerations.

Neither Légaré nor Zucker fills a position of need in Detroit. Rasmussen plays all positions and is still improving and is looking to become a decent middle six utility forward that's good defensively.

Detroit would be interested in Kapanen and Nylander and might be ready to give you Rasmussen for Pettersson + Kapanen + Nylander + Zucker. (Marcus and Alex = Zucker and Rasmussen for Kapanen.)

They have been grooming him for more of a defensive role as a checking line center or a shutdown center. As he has gotten more comfortable in that role and knows what is expected of him his production has improved as well.

I'm just not too sure about Kapanen he has played for 2 of the best offenses in the league and his production has been mediocre. Toronto and Pittsburgh have been playing ping pong with him. Before he was traded to back to Pittsburgh he was in just about every Leafs AGCM done by Leafs fans and now after 2 seasons in Pittsburgh he is in just about every Pittsburgh ACGM done by Penguins fans. I know that doesn't really mean much but you have to ask why are the fans of the last 2 teams he's played for so eager to get rid of him.

Do you have to ask about Toronto? They have a habit of chasing players out of town. PIT is entirely about their cap situation.

Kapanen have really good underlying numbers and even a small improvement in scoring will make him a staple on the 2RW spot. Getting Kapanen and Nylander would give us enough pieces to make sure we have a really good top-9 in one or two years time.

Fair enough.