Alexander-Edler

The Canucks might move defenseman Alexander Edler (23), who has five years remaining on his contract at $5 million per season.

(The Associated Press)

NEWARK, N.J. – The Detroit Red Wings stood pat Tuesday during a flurry of trade activity on the eve of Wednesday’s 3 p.m. deadline.

General manager Ken Holland said he talked to a lot of teams, but the cost to acquire a quality player remains high.

He will continue working the phones on Wednesday in his search for a top-four defenseman.

“I don’t think we’re doing anything up front or in goal,” Holland said. “You’re always trying to do something on the back end. Not sure if we will or not.”

Vancouver, which pulled off the biggest deal on Tuesday by shipping goaltender Roberto Luongo back to Florida for goalie Jacob Markstrom and forward Shawn Matthias, is looking to move defenseman Alexander Edler, who is at or near the top of the Red Wings’ wish list.

Buffalo might deal defensemen Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers.

All of these players have a lot of term remaining on their contract (Edler has five years left at $5 million per season; Ehrhoff has seven years left at $18 million, but with a cap hit of $4 million; Myers has five years left at $5.5 million per season).

Holland said he is not interested in spending premium assets (young roster player, top prospect, first-round pick) for a rental (player in the final year of his contract).

Andrew MacDonald, whom the Red Wings had interest in, was traded by the New York Islanders to Philadelphia for second- and third-round picks and forward prospect Matt Mangene.