On Monday, just before the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline buzzer sounded, the Detroit Red Wings traded RW Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals for RW Richard Panik, LW Jakub Vrana, a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
The Detroit #RedWings today acquired RW Richard Panik, LW Jakub Vrana, a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft from the Washington Capitals in exchange for RW Anthony Mantha. pic.twitter.com/Tp8M0uXiJe
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 12, 2021
Following the trade, a plethora of Red Wings fans took to social media to praise Red Wings’ GM Steve Yzerman for absolutely fleecing the Capitals.
One person who agrees that Yzerman won the trade is Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, who gave the Red Wings an A+ for the trade. Here is what Greg had to say about the deal.
Detroit Red Wings A+
Another Jedi mind trick from Steve Yzerman. The Red Wings pull a first-rounder, a second-rounder and two NHL players out of Washington for Anthony Mantha.
Again, the Wings used their cap space to their advantage. Panik makes $2.75 million against the cap through 2022-23 and is a serviceable player. Vrana has shown the potential for even more scoring than his 25 goals in 69 games last season, and he’ll get a showcase in rebuilding Detroit.
Vrana is 25. He fits the Detroit timeline better than Mantha, as the Red Wings are at a minimum two years away from making any significant progress up the standings.
But as Yzerman has done time and time again, it’s the draft capital from the Capitals that’s really made this trade a great one for Detroit. They now have two first-rounders, three second-rounders, two third-rounders and two fourth-rounders in this season’s draft. Granted, you’d hope it was in a draft with a little more certainty in scouting and player development. But that’s a treasure trove, and Yzerman continues to find ways to add to it. — Wyshynski
Nation, what grade do you give this trade by Steve Yzerman? Did he fleece the Capitals?
