we'll have to see. Vrana seems to have ok numbers so far in his career.
mixed feelings about Mantha, guy is def. a floater but has hands and size you cant teach.

Quick thoughts:

My impression of Vrana is that he isn't quite as good as Mantha, but he also isn't that far off either. His production is pretty nice especially considering he gets second/third line sort of minutes in Washington. Will be interesting to see how he adjusts to (likely) being a first-line winger on a bottom feeder.

Panik, whatever. I don't like him but he's a competent third liner.

If it's true that this deal also includes a 1st and 2nd rounder, and Vrana re-signs in Detroit (he's an RFA) ...

I mean, I genuinely love Mantha and didn't want to see him go, but this looks like a decent win to me.
- Sven22

I watch a lot of Capitals games. He’s a completely different player. Very much Darren Helm (which in his prime was fantastic speed wise). Washington is a place where guys can score. I don’t know how the system here will work, but I expect if we keep Vrana long term he’ll be a third line center

I have a feeling Mantha's work ethic factored into this deal.

You got a younger player, on par statistically. You also get a chance to hit a reset on the 5.7 AAV deal.

lol. weren't you just saying mantha wouldn't fetch a 1st?

I watch a lot of Capitals games. He’s a completely different player. Very much Darren Helm (which in his prime was fantastic speed wise). Washington is a place where guys can score. I don’t know how the system here will work, but I expect if we keep Vrana long term he’ll be a third line center
- Jeremy Laura

Vrana is a winger that can score. Overall a lateral move from Mantha while adding picks. Huge W.

I watch a lot of Capitals games. He’s a completely different player. Very much Darren Helm (which in his prime was fantastic speed wise). Washington is a place where guys can score. I don’t know how the system here will work, but I expect if we keep Vrana long term he’ll be a third line center
- Jeremy Laura

Not saying they are similar players stylistically, just that they are both good.

I agree that Mantha is at least slightly better, and I genuinely hope he does awesome in Washington.

I watch a lot of Capitals games. He’s a completely different player. Very much Darren Helm (which in his prime was fantastic speed wise). Washington is a place where guys can score. I don’t know how the system here will work, but I expect if we keep Vrana long term he’ll be a third line center
- Jeremy Laura

Vrana does not play center.

What year for the 1st & 2d???

EDIT: '21 1st, '22 2d.

This deal SUCKS. Big time. Panik is an assssshole. Vrana.....meh. Not impressed. This one needs to marinate a bit, but my gut reaction was to ralph my lunch. Mikey's gonna quit, he loved "the big Frenchman"
- mcmastermike1968

Poor Mick. At least he can still tell us (wrongly) how old Brome is. He's not a kid anymore!

Mantha was looking to be a Franzen 2.0. Small hot streak, long cold streak. Work ethic definitely to be lacking. Vrana will get more minutes here and cap hit likely to be much smaller if we sign him. Sure, if Mantha gets his poop together this won't look as good. That's a big IF though.

Mantha was looking to be a Franzen 2.0. Small hot streak, long cold streak. Work ethic definitely to be lacking. Vrana will get more minutes here and cap hit likely to be much smaller if we sign him. Sure, if Mantha gets his poop together this won't look as good. That's a big IF though.
- WhiskeyWings

spot on. Mantha disappears then had a game or two where he dominates and your like, where has he been all this time. Mantha being a floater no doubt frustrated Yzerman.

So let’s all be honest with each other it’s evident mantha didn’t want to be here. And realistically I don’t think we would ever see the production we wanted from mantha. Now let’s all take a second to mull over this... vrana has played 2/3 line minutes on a stacked Washington team achieving 52 points and 25G’s in a shortened season last season and 47 the year prior. I have no reason to doubt he cannot replicate that production on the wings with a increased roll. Also I think it’s worth noting kuch came out of the second round. So the additional first and second round picks are a great throw in. In reality we will likely watch mantha have a career year next year but I think we got a guy who is gonna be close on the stat line and two picks to throw in

Are you high? Yzerman fleeced the Caps. Vrana may be the best player in this deal.

1st round pick is this year, 2nd round is 2022

From an outsider's perspective, I like this deal for Detroit. Vrana is a solid add. Although very different players, I think Vrana will do well with Larkin. Keep in mind that Vrana was playing under 15 mins per game and getting secondary PP mins.

They got a 1st and a 2nd. Nice. Panik is a throw in. Vrana is an RFA. He's 25. 11 goals this season. I said all season Stevie must be very disappointed with Mantha. I don't know much about Vrana. He scored 24 and 25 goals the previous 2 seasons.
- gergeswillems

The vast majority of which were even strength. Give him PP1 minutes with a solid C and he’ll be good for 30+.

Very good deal for the Wings IMO.

Are you high? Yzerman fleeced the Caps. Vrana may be the best player in this deal.
- LeafsPain54

No, I’m not high. And no, Vrana isn’t the best player in the deal. He is a grinder. He’s got some scoring touch, but he’s a 3rd line guy on a very good team

Are you high? Yzerman fleeced the Caps. Vrana may be the best player in this deal.
- LeafsPain54

Clearly a Leafs fan knows more about Mantha than we do, because you've watched every Wings game the last few seasons like most of us have, eh? I'm okay with the deal, but Vrana isn't better than Mantha.

I like Vrana's game a lot. Lot's of speed and, with respect to the Helm comparison, a ton more skill in Vrana's game.

I'm guessing the 1st and 2nd came in because mantha has term on the deal (?) maybe. Otherwise I really don't see why Washington added both of those picks to the deal. Panik was to make the money work on both sides and he's a serviceable player.

I think this is a great deal for the wings.

Mantha was looking to be a Franzen 2.0. Small hot streak, long cold streak. Work ethic definitely to be lacking. Vrana will get more minutes here and cap hit likely to be much smaller if we sign him. Sure, if Mantha gets his poop together this won't look as good. That's a big IF though.
- WhiskeyWings

That's the thing with Mantha. If hey can stay healthy. If he moves his feet. If all the it's and but's were candy and nuts then we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

This trade must've been in the works for awhile. I really believe Yzerman expected a much better season from Mantha. He gave him that big contract extension and Mantha returned to his inconsistent floating ways.

Yzerman doesn't suffer fools lightly. He didn't when he played either. I don't know much about Vrana so I'm not going to say he's better than Mantha or isn't. But I do trust Yzerman's judgment.

We're all shocked right now but maybe once it wears off we'll think Yzerman made a good trade here. Or not. I don't know. But I'm not going to dismiss it on gut reaction.

How are you comparing Vrana to Helm?

Panik is UFA in 23-24, $2.75 AAV, RW.
Vrana is UFA in 21-22, $3.5 AAV, C.

The vast majority of which were even strength. Give him PP1 minutes with a solid C and he’ll be good for 30+.

Very good deal for the Wings IMO.
- Wildschwein

Again, on a high scoring team with tons of depth and talent. I don’t see him doing the same production in Detroit. Context is everything.

spot on. Mantha disappears then had a game or two where he dominates and your like, where has he been all this time. Mantha being a floater no doubt frustrated Yzerman.
- wingz4life

I started as a huge Mantha fan, but for the past two years, I got Franzen vibes from him. Obviously huge, talented and has a rocket of a shot, but so was Franzen.

How are you comparing Vrana to Helm?
- Feds91Stammer

Because that’s the player he is in this generation. Watch his game and not just the stats. I watch them all the time.

This deal was fantastic for the red wings. They are LOADED with picks in this draft. Looking for the Wings version of Kucherov or Point with as many lotto tickets as he can get. Can't say I've EVER heard Vrana referred to as good defensively, dude is a dynamic left winger that can score goals at a very similar rate to Mantha (both have 24 and 25 goal seasons) so.. I'm not sure what is so upsetting about this trade.