The Red Wings have acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2008 2nd-round draft pick and a 2009 4th-round draft pick. Stuart, a 6'2" 215-lb. blueliner, joins his fifth career NHL team and rounds out the Red Wings' top four defense corp. Stuart will practice with the team on Thursday and will be in the lineup Friday against the Sharks.

Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that Stuart will likely be partnered with Niklas Kronwall as the Red Wings' No. 2 pairing. Kronwall could return to the lineup for Friday's game.

“He gives us one more defenseman,” Holland told St. James. “We think he’s a perfect no. 4 for us. He can play a little bit on the second power play, he can kill some penalties, he gives us some size, he’s abrasive. We played against him last year in the Calgary series, we thought he played real well against us. He gives us depth.”

Stuart had 5 goals and 21 points this season for the Kings in 63 games. He also added 67 penalty minutes but was near the bottom of the club in +/- with a -16.

The Red Wings were first reported to have an interest in Stuart a week ago when club scouts were sighted watching the Kings play the St. Louis Blues.

Holland admitted that the Red Wings had contacted Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell about high-scoring winger Marian Hossa but bowed out when the asking price got too high. The Thashers received an impressive package of young prospects and a No. 1 draft selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Hossa.