Steve Yzerman's Trade for Jakub Vrana Looks Like a Total Disaster in Hindsight
When the Detroit Red Wings traded forward Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals, it had all the makings of a steal for GM Steve Yzerman.
For Mantha, Detroit received a 2021 1st round pick, a 2022 2nd round pick, Richard Panic (cap dump) and forward Jakub Vrana, who was the real prize. At the time, anyway. From '19-20 through '21-22 Vrana ranked 2nd in 5v5 goals per 60 minutes behind only Auston Matthews.
That plan was foiled, unfortunately, as Vrana's struggles totally derailed his game. Vrana entered the NHL's Player Assistance Program and was waived shortly after; he has 9 points in 15 AHL games since his demotion.
Now, it seems Yzerman has run out of options and has simply had it with the striker's antics.
While anything's possible, I'm hearing it's highly likely he's played his final game with Detroit.
Likeliest scenarios: TRADE or OFFSEASON BUYOUT."
A trade that - at the time - seemed like a solid deal for both sides (although Detroit was the clear winner) has now evolved into full-fledged disaster on all fronts.
Washington head coach Peter Laviolette made Mantha a healthy scratch recently, and his name has appeared in trade rumors over the last month or so. Mantha's ice time has dwindled, as he hasn't fit in as seamlessly as GM Brian MacLellan had hoped.
For Detroit, the lucrative haul they received for Mantha has utterly deteriorated. Vrana's story is known; he's done in Detroit.
The 2021 1st rounder Yzerman secured was used to select goaltender Sebastian Cossa. Cossa has a sub-.900 save-percentage in the ECHL and does not project to ever become a full-time NHLer. What's worse is that five picks later Minnesota drafted goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who is having a great season in the AHL and is soon to make the ascent to the NHL.
Panik plays in Switzerland and still costs Detroit $1.375 million per season. The 2022 2nd round pick Detroit acquired was used on Russian forward Dmitri Buchelnikov, who actually looks like a solid player. Buchelnikov, 19, has 27 points in 32 VHL games.
Problem there is that Buchelnikov is signed in Russia through the 2024-25 season and has expressed interest in hanging around past then, although nothing is certain.
All said and done, this trade could prove to be a complete blunder for Yzerman if he can't flip Vrana for something useful.
| POLL | ||
FÉVRIER 7 | 270 ANSWERS Steve Yzerman's Trade for Jakub Vrana Looks Like a Total Disaster in Hindsight Do you still trust the "Yzerplan?" | ||
| Yes | 193 | 71.5 % |
| No | 77 | 28.5 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Kyle Connor | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Owen Power | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Michael Bunting | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Drew Helleson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jirí Kulich | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Isac Lundestrom | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Vladislav Namestnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nino Niederreiter | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Gabriel Vilardi | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jason Zucker | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Leo Carlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ross Johnston | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Evgeni Malkin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Josh Morrissey | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Perfetti | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Bryan Rust | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mark Scheifele | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Trevor Zegras | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||