Yzerman’s Trades
Yzerman only had one trade during the offseason, as he weaponized the Red Wing’s plentiful cap space to absorb Marc Staal’s $5.7 million contract for a second round pick from the New York Rangers.
2021’s biggest moment for the Red Wings came during the trade deadline. The deadline seemed to have been a slow one for Detroit, as 3 p.m. came and passed. The only trades leading up to the day were Merrill for a fifth and Patrik Nemeth for a fourth. But just minutes later, news leaked Yzerman’s blockbuster trade with the Washington Capitals. In exchange for Anthony Mantha, Detroit received a 2021 first round pick, a 2022 second, Richard Panik and Jakub Vrana. At the time, most considered the trade a huge victory for Detroit – and that opinion was validated as the season came to a close. Vrana practically exploded offensively, averaging a point-per-game in his 11 as a Red Wing. Not only did Detroit receive a player essentially at the same level as Mantha, they also increased their already impressive amount of draft capital.