Jeremy Laura: Perron’s 3rd period hat trick grabs win over Penguins

Good game Perron. On a side note Vrana scored 2 more goals tonight and now has 9 goals in 12 games. I hope yzerman has something up his sleeve to get a goal scorer like Vrana. At this pace he will be a 50 goal scorer We all know that nobody would trade a 50 goal scorer for nothing. Lol

Was a satisfying win! Glad to see Perron get that natural hatty! It was Karma considering the goal they allowed after Zucker was allowed to interfere with Ned twice in the same play! Hitting his glove then pushing the pad with the puck into the goal!
No tanking against the putrid Penguins! I wanna see the flightless birds miss the play-offs!

Good game Perron. On a side note Vrana scored 2 more goals tonight and now has 9 goals in 12 games. I hope yzerman has something up his sleeve to get a goal scorer like Vrana. At this pace he will be a 50 goal scorer We all know that nobody would trade a 50 goal scorer for nothing. Lol
- saintdog19

It is such a shame. I really thought (after being skeptical and wrong about the trade) things would be good. But he was being healthy scratched at times in D.C., came here and was scoring on almost 25% of shots. Just couldn’t keep him healthy and on the ice. This last set of issues had to be a big enough deal, but I still keep wondering why no one grabbed him on waivers. There were teams with some cap space. Want the best for him, hoping we have a gem coming our way

It is such a shame. I really thought (after being skeptical and wrong about the trade) things would be good. But he was being healthy scratched at times in D.C., came here and was scoring on almost 25% of shots. Just couldn’t keep him healthy and on the ice. This last set of issues had to be a big enough deal, but I still keep wondering why no one grabbed him on waivers. There were teams with some cap space. Want the best for him, hoping we have a gem coming our way
- Jeremy Laura

There is no way Yzerman just tosses away a 40 goal scorer unless there are serious issues that impact the team. Steve has always been a team first guy and you can expect him to continue that style of leadership. As for Varana continuing to score goals, good for him and good for the Wings. He has won 3-4 games for the Blues which could lead to better draft positions for us throughout this years draft.

There is no way Yzerman just tosses away a 40 goal scorer unless there are serious issues that impact the team. Steve has always been a team first guy and you can expect him to continue that style of leadership. As for Varana continuing to score goals, good for him and good for the Wings. He has won 3-4 games for the Blues which could lead to better draft positions for us throughout this years draft.
- Goalie Dad

I would like to give Yzerman the benefit of the doubt but the truth is, since no one is talking about the real reason for the trade (not that they are obligated to do so, of course), there's no fair way to judge.

Yzerman clearly believes he made the correct decision. Vrana clearly did not agree. I think it's fair to conclude that Vrana did something to violate the team's trust, but was that something serious enough to warrant demoting him, benching him, then trading him for nothing when his skillset is literally the exact precise thing that the team desperately needs? (It also stands to reason that St. Louis was fully aware of the circumstances, but decided Vrana's past behavior, whatever it may have been, was not a dealbreaker.) We have no way to know, and how you feel about it basically comes down to "who do you trust?"

As much as we might like to think we "know" Yzerman because he's been such a big part of the Detroit sports landscape for the last 40 years, none of us really truly know the guy. I do think that, overall, he's a good GM. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Vrana trade was ultimately a major overreaction fueled by pettiness.

It is such a shame. I really thought (after being skeptical and wrong about the trade) things would be good. But he was being healthy scratched at times in D.C., came here and was scoring on almost 25% of shots. Just couldn’t keep him healthy and on the ice. This last set of issues had to be a big enough deal, but I still keep wondering why no one grabbed him on waivers. There were teams with some cap space. Want the best for him, hoping we have a gem coming our way
- Jeremy Laura

Everything about the situation seems off. It’s impossible to evaluate this with the lack of information. There’s no question about his talent. Vrana scored 2 goals in the 1st period against the Wild after being traded. He blew past 2 d men on the 1st and got a one timer off a face off. Maybe it was battle fatigue for Yzerman and he was done. When the Wings are Cup contenders again they hopefully will have a younger replacement for him.

I would like to give Yzerman the benefit of the doubt but the truth is, since no one is talking about the real reason for the trade (not that they are obligated to do so, of course), there's no fair way to judge.

Yzerman clearly believes he made the correct decision. Vrana clearly did not agree. I think it's fair to conclude that Vrana did something to violate the team's trust, but was that something serious enough to warrant demoting him, benching him, then trading him for nothing when his skillset is literally the exact precise thing that the team desperately needs? (It also stands to reason that St. Louis was fully aware of the circumstances, but decided Vrana's past behavior, whatever it may have been, was not a dealbreaker.) We have no way to know, and how you feel about it basically comes down to "who do you trust?"

As much as we might like to think we "know" Yzerman because he's been such a big part of the Detroit sports landscape for the last 40 years, none of us really truly know the guy. I do think that, overall, he's a good GM. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Vrana trade was ultimately a major overreaction fueled by pettiness.
- Sven22

I really think Stevie did Vrana a huge favor. Clearly there was not a GM in the league that thought that Vrana was worth trading for. So Stevie found him a new home and a new start, at a cost to the Wings, when no one else wished to take a chance on him. Evidently Yzerman must have felt that Vrana was toxic enough to jettison him and not take any more chances on him missing more games. He missed OVER 100 GAMES IN 2 SEASONS for reasons that could have mostly been dealt with in the off season, it appears. Stevie did not want to give Vrana a chance to screw him and the team again.

Anybody think Stevie was thinking of the effect Bob Probert had on the Wings during his drug induced time with the Wings. Probert had talent and was the toughest guy in the league and helped protect Stevie in this days, but he was a huge distraction too. Maybe Yzerman didn't want to see the team go through that again. Besides, didn't he go against the grain in Tampa and trade the super popular Martin St. Louis to the NYR? He's definitely not afraid to do whatever he thinks is best for the organization, even if nobody else likes it.

Anybody think Stevie was thinking of the effect Bob Probert had on the Wings during his drug induced time with the Wings. Probert had talent and was the toughest guy in the league and helped protect Stevie in this days, but he was a huge distraction too. Maybe Yzerman didn't want to see the team go through that again. Besides, didn't he go against the grain in Tampa and trade the super popular Martin St. Louis to the NYR? He's definitely not afraid to do whatever he thinks is best for the organization, even if nobody else likes it.
- Wingsfan61

St. Louis was pissed that Stevie left him off the Olympic team. With so many Canadian superstars, you were going to piss off someone! Marty demanded a trade.

Anybody think Stevie was thinking of the effect Bob Probert had on the Wings during his drug induced time with the Wings. Probert had talent and was the toughest guy in the league and helped protect Stevie in this days, but he was a huge distraction too. Maybe Yzerman didn't want to see the team go through that again. Besides, didn't he go against the grain in Tampa and trade the super popular Martin St. Louis to the NYR? He's definitely not afraid to do whatever he thinks is best for the organization, even if nobody else likes it.
- Wingsfan61

Not sure what drugs has to do with the Vrana situation if that’s what you’re implying.

Yzerman dumped a disgruntled Drouin.

He dumped a crybaby MSL.

Clearly there wasn’t a way to reconcile whatever happened with Vrana. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to just move on from the topic.

Not sure what drugs has to do with the Vrana situation if that’s what you’re implying.

Yzerman dumped a disgruntled Drouin.

He dumped a crybaby MSL.

Clearly there wasn’t a way to reconcile whatever happened with Vrana. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to just move on from the topic.
- Feds91Stammer

I get where you're coming from and I'm not trying to poke the bear here, but I guess I have two comments (not quite counterarguments):

The first is about return. Yzerman got Callahan, two 1sts, and a 7th for St. Louis (and a 2nd). He got Sergachev and a 2nd for Drouin (and a 6th). He got less than nothing for Vrana. Yes, I get that there wasn't nearly as much of a market for Vrana, and maybe if the same were true for St. Louis or Drouin he might have dumped them for nothing as well. I'm not sure he would have been able to do so without intense criticism though.

The second is simply to say that, while we know that Yzerman certainly believed there wasn't a way to reconcile the relationship, without details we have no fair way to evaluate his reasoning. Maybe he made the correct call. Maybe he didn't.

I'm not trying to stump for Vrana here or rip Yzerman, who I still believe is overall a very good GM. It may well be the case that moving on was 100% the correct move for everyone involved. I guess I'm just saying that I don't have blind faith that it was the right move.

Did anyone see Vrana battling in his handful of games this year? He looked like a passenger to me. Glad he got a new start, but his success with the Blues doesn’t translate to the same success with the wings.

On another topic, which 2023 UFA is your top pick for the Wings? I’d love to have a Center who can fight. I looked at the list and I didn’t fall in love. My Son told me his pick is Dumba, but I responded that he would have to make up with Raymond! So I’ll say Bertuzzi on a team friendly deal. Yeah, I went there. Miss the guy.

Did anyone see Vrana battling in his handful of games this year? He looked like a passenger to me. Glad he got a new start, but his success with the Blues doesn’t translate to the same success with the wings.

On another topic, which 2023 UFA is your top pick for the Wings? I’d love to have a Center who can fight. I looked at the list and I didn’t fall in love. My Son told me his pick is Dumba, but I responded that he would have to make up with Raymond! So I’ll say Bertuzzi on a team friendly deal. Yeah, I went there. Miss the guy.
- NC_Scott

A few choices by position of need.

Right D:
Damon Severson
Scott Mayfield
Matt Dumba
Radko Gudas, not my favorite player but would add some toughness for a couple years.

Goalie:
Hill
Semyon Varlamov

Right Wing:
Garnett Hathaway
Alex Killorn

Center:
J.T. Compher

Did anyone see Vrana battling in his handful of games this year? He looked like a passenger to me. Glad he got a new start, but his success with the Blues doesn’t translate to the same success with the wings.

On another topic, which 2023 UFA is your top pick for the Wings? I’d love to have a Center who can fight. I looked at the list and I didn’t fall in love. My Son told me his pick is Dumba, but I responded that he would have to make up with Raymond! So I’ll say Bertuzzi on a team friendly deal. Yeah, I went there. Miss the guy.
- NC_Scott

Severson and/or Monahan

I get where you're coming from and I'm not trying to poke the bear here, but I guess I have two comments (not quite counterarguments):

The first is about return. Yzerman got Callahan, two 1sts, and a 7th for St. Louis (and a 2nd). He got Sergachev and a 2nd for Drouin (and a 6th). He got less than nothing for Vrana. Yes, I get that there wasn't nearly as much of a market for Vrana, and maybe if the same were true for St. Louis or Drouin he might have dumped them for nothing as well. I'm not sure he would have been able to do so without intense criticism though.

The second is simply to say that, while we know that Yzerman certainly believed there wasn't a way to reconcile the relationship, without details we have no fair way to evaluate his reasoning. Maybe he made the correct call. Maybe he didn't.

I'm not trying to stump for Vrana here or rip Yzerman, who I still believe is overall a very good GM. It may well be the case that moving on was 100% the correct move for everyone involved. I guess I'm just saying that I don't have blind faith that it was the right move.
- Sven22

Despite his talent, thirty-one NHL general managers UNANIMOUSLY passed on Vrana with ABSOLUTELY NO COMPENSATION REQUIRED IN RETURN. If this doesn't serve as ample evidence that dumping him is the right move, I don't know what would. I thought a costly buyout would be required, but Steve did very well to find a team to take on 50% of Vrana's salary. Vrana is a habitual liar and a potential team cancer. Good riddance !

Anybody think Stevie was thinking of the effect Bob Probert had on the Wings during his drug induced time with the Wings. Probert had talent and was the toughest guy in the league and helped protect Stevie in this days, but he was a huge distraction too. Maybe Yzerman didn't want to see the team go through that again. Besides, didn't he go against the grain in Tampa and trade the super popular Martin St. Louis to the NYR? He's definitely not afraid to do whatever he thinks is best for the organization, even if nobody else likes it.
- Wingsfan61

Darren McCarty addressed it a little. He probably has a little more insight into the situation. He talked about the Wings are very loyal to their players when they need help, ie McCarty and Probert. He talked about Bobby Ryan as well, but the point he made from a team culture standpoint, is that you're either "in" or "in the way" and he said the most important thing was taking responsibility for your actions. We may never know what happened to Vrana, but we know he's an elite goal scorer, especially on 5v5. The Caps let him go, the Wings let him go, and not a single GM wanted him for free a few months back, in a time when every team wants to improve 5v5 production. As someone said, it seems to me that St. Louis was doing the Wings a favor by taking him. Whatever he did, I'm going to guess the Wings felt he was "in the way" and paid a heavy price to move on from him.

Darren McCarty addressed it a little. He probably has a little more insight into the situation. He talked about the Wings are very loyal to their players when they need help, ie McCarty and Probert. He talked about Bobby Ryan as well, but the point he made from a team culture standpoint, is that you're either "in" or "in the way" and he said the most important thing was taking responsibility for your actions. We may never know what happened to Vrana, but we know he's an elite goal scorer, especially on 5v5. The Caps let him go, the Wings let him go, and not a single GM wanted him for free a few months back, in a time when every team wants to improve 5v5 production. As someone said, it seems to me that St. Louis was doing the Wings a favor by taking him. Whatever he did, I'm going to guess the Wings felt he was "in the way" and paid a heavy price to move on from him.
- bluelineenforcer

I wonder if the Blues capitalize on Vrana's better value this summer and trades him before he gets a chance to screw them?

RD, Severson, 5 x $4.75M
C, Monahan, or trade for Schiefle (just for the 1 yr he has unless he proves to not be the cancer in the room.) Benett or Rozlevic

BU G, Pettersen at 1/2 price, get a B prospect (Jordan Spence?) or at least a 2023 2nd all for a 4th

I wonder if the Blues capitalize on Vrana's better value this summer and trades him before he gets a chance to screw them?
- HenryHockey

It may be the best haul for a 7th rounder in league history.

After reading the comments on Vrana I have to say that Sven22 is pretty much right on the bullseye with his comments. I also would like to know how Todd 3066 knows that Vrana is an habitual liar. Also l believe out of respect for Yzerman a lot of GMs didn’t touch Vrana when he was waived, probably now looking back a lot of these Gm would now have claimed him. As for what should the red wings do in the offseason. 1 resign Bertuzzi 2 sign Timo Meier if available to replace all the goals Vrana would have scored 3. Sign Varlamov. 4. Trade some of these picks accumulated and make a trade for Erik Karlson. These 4 moves make the wings a legitimate play off team.