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Trade deadline wrap-up: Wings’ lone deadline move is a risk-reward proposition

The Detroit Red Wings made one trade today, sending Joe Veleno to Chicago for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman addressed the media in a 40-minute press conference ahead of Detroit’s 5th straight loss, a 5-2 decision dropped to the Washington Capitals on Friday night.

MLive’s Ansar Khan summarized today’s trade thusly…

It’s also a puzzling move because Mrazek, 33, has one year remaining on his contract at $4.25 million and doesn’t appear to be an upgrade over Cam Talbot or Alex Lyon.

Mrazek, in his third season with the Blackhawks, is 10-19-2 with a 3.46 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. A Red Wings’ fifth-round draft pick in 2010 (141st overall), he spent parts of six seasons in Detroit from 2012-2018 before being traded to Philadelphia for a third-round pick.

Talbot is under contract for another season at $2.5 million. Lyon will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Top goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa is waiver-exempt for one more season, so he could spend another year with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Smith, 35, is a bottom-six forward who will upgrade their fourth-line center spot with his size (6-1, 203) and forechecking ability. The longtime Nashville Predator and 14-year veteran has nine goals and seven assists in 40 games. He is in the final year of his contract ($1 million) and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

And Khan took note of Yzerman’s comments regarding not getting into the rental market as he chose to take a conservative route when it comes to trades…

“The type of deal that was available is the pending unrestricted free agents and we didn’t even get into that,” Yzerman said. “Where we’re at … to get into that rental thing, giving up our first-round picks and our top prospects, that’s not the thing to do right now.

“I want to make the playoffs, and I want to win a Stanley cup as much as anybody, and I take full responsibility for where we’re at today. I’m going to make the best decisions that I can for us, short-term and long-term.”

The Red Wings have missed the playoffs eight years in a row and Yzerman said he understands fans are frustrated and impatient.

“We did what we thought we could to help give us a better chance at the playoffs,” Yzerman said. “Is it earth-shattering? No. But the only way we could do something earth-shattering is to give up first-round picks and our best young players and prospects. And I think everybody would agree that just to try and hope for us to get in (the playoffs) isn’t the time to do that. We’re prepared to use our picks and prospects, but it’s got to be for players that we really like that are going to be a part of this thing for future years and beyond.”

While 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield noted Yzerman’s remarks regarding fan frustration as the rebuild percolates slowly…

Continue reading Trade deadline wrap-up: Wings’ lone deadline move is a risk-reward proposition

Red Wings-Capitals quick take: collapsible team

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 4-game losing streak while battling the Washington Capitals while playing their 2nd game in 2 nights and their 3rd in 4 evenings against the tied-for-the-league-lead Caps.

As you might imagine, the Red Wings actually started well, building a 2-0 lead on goals by Dylan Larkin and Moritz Seider, but the Capitals rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the 3rd period, scoring 2 shorthanded goals and 4 goals in 8:48, taking a 5-1 decision from the beleaguered Red Wings.

Detroit will get Saturday off and practice on Sunday before heading to Ottawa for what’s sure to be a mean and nasty affair on Monday, and then the Wings host the Sabres on Wednesday, and head to Carolina next Friday.

Continue reading Red Wings-Capitals quick take: collapsible team

On the shortage of trade deadline fireworks

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took note of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s remarks regarding his decision to not make a blockbuster move at the trade deadline…

“Players that have short term on their contracts, and are younger and going to be part of this group for more than one or two years, I’d be open to doing that type of deal,” said Yzerman, of trading away draft picks or prospects. “That type of deal wasn’t available. Pending UFAs that teams were selling off, we didn’t even get into those discussions.

“Where we’re at, and we’d love to make the playoffs, but to get into that rental thing and giving up our first-round draft picks and all and what we consider our top prospects, we’d all agree whether we like it or not being in that situation, that’s not the thing to do right now.

“I understand the frustration or impatience. This is a hockey market and people know the game and want the team to do well. I would say we did what we thought we could to give us a better chance to make the playoffs.”

And there’s this:

Yzerman is pleased with the turnaround of the team since replacing Derek Lalonde with Todd McLellan as head coach on Dec. 26.

“Pleased for the most part with how the team has responded,” Yzerman said. “Coming out of the (4 Nations) break here, a little bit we’ve lost some steam. But I’m very pleased. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t make the change just to give us a little bump. Todd is a very good coach and he’s going to take this team … he’ll do a good job moving forward with us.”

HSJ in the evening: Wings GM Steve Yzerman discusses fan frustration, adding Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith

The Free Press’s Helene St. James took note of several of the comments made by Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman during his post-trade deadline press conference, including this regarding Red Wings fans’ frustration with the progress, or lack thereof, from the rebuild…

“First of all, I understand the frustration or the impatience,” Yzerman said. “It’s a hockey market, it’s a hockey city. People know the game, they want the team to do well. And I guess what would I say is, we did what we thought we could to help give us a better chance here at the playoffs. Is it earth-shattering? No it’s not. But the only way we could do something earth-shattering is to give up first-round picks and our best young players and prospects, and I think everybody would agree that just to try to hope for us to get in — this isn’t the time to do that.”

And St. James noted the reasons why the GM chose to reunite with Petr Mrazek, who’s now a 33-year-old goaltender…

Mrázek hasn’t posted great numbers his last four seasons (with the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs), failing to finish with a goals-against average below 3.00 since 2020-21. But the Wings drafted him for his competitiveness, and they like that he’s signed through next season with a $4.25 million salary cap hit. He’ll share the net the rest of the season with Cam Talbot (also signed through 2025-26) and Alex Lyon.

“We’re hoping Petr can come in and give us a boost in net,” Yzerman said. “One thing that was attractive to us is he’s signed for another season, and the goalie market right now looking into the summer, what goalies are signing for, the term and the dollar amount — for what our options were today and our options might be in the offseason, we thought it was good insurance for us.  We think his competitiveness and experience will give us some quality starts.”

As well as bringing in 35-year-old forward Craig Smith:

Smith is a pending unrestricted free agent. He’s recorded 220 goals and 230 assists in 968 career NHL games. He has nine goals and 16 points in 40 games this season, and posted 11 goals in 75 games last season while with the Dallas Stars.

“Craig maybe provides a little bit of offense throughout the lineup,” Yzerman said. “Historically, Craig’s a guy who’s been able to shoot the puck in the net a little bit and we could use that.”

Allen: Sabres wanted a ‘hockey deal’ for Cozens

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders aloud whether the Ottawa Senators’ trade for Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens will “come back to haunt” the Red Wings, but Allen also notes that the Red Wings weren’t willing to pay the Sabres’ asking price for Cozens:

The Ottawa Senators, one of Detroit’s chief rivals for an Eastern Conference wildcard spot, traded for the player that the Red Wings wanted.

The Senators acquired center-wing Dylan Cozens, a second-round pick and defenseman Dennis Gilbert for center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

This is considered a “hockey trade”, a deal that is mostly about how it impacts the two teams today. That’s important because hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Red Wings had also pursued a deal for Cozens. The Red Wings liked him as a No. 2 center

Sources told Detroit Hockey Now that Detroit’s offer involved a first-round pick and prospects. Sabres’ general manager Kevin Adams informed the Red Wings that if he traded Cozens it would only be in a “hockey deal.”The Sabres have one of the league’s better collections of prospects. What they wanted was more proven skill.

To get Norris, who already has 20 goals this season, the Sabres sweetened the deal with a second-round pick. Norris, 25, previously scored 35 goals in a season.

The Red Wings simply didn’t have a player like Norris to offer. Norris is in his prime and he has a track record of success.

Detroit fans were hoping Detroit could package someone like J.T. Compher, Joe Veleno and perhaps a first-round pick to get Cozens. But that was never going to happen. Cozens is 24 and has a 31-goal season on his resume.

Press release: PWHL Takeover to be held at Little Caesars Arena on March 16th

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Little Caesars Arena hosts PWHL Takeover Tour game on Sunday, March 16

  • First 8,000 fans receive PWHL Rally Towel
  • Fans can watch Michigan natives Elle Hartje, Abby Roque, Taylor Girard and Mellissa Channell-Watkins, along with 2023 first overall draft pick Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield in action
  • Practices open to public on Saturday

DETROIT – After a successful inaugural season Takeover Tour, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is returning to Detroit for another game between the New York Sirens and the Minnesota Frost at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

Little Caesars Arena set the U.S. professional women’s hockey attendance record at the time with 13,736 fans at last year’s PWHL game in Detroit.

Fans can enjoy a hockey doubleheader on Sunday by attending the Detroit Red Wings game at 1 p.m. and the PWHL game at 7:30 p.m. PWHL tickets can be purchased here, starting at just $26. Arena doors for the PWHL game will open at 6:15 p.m.

Game parking throughout The District Detroit will be available, and purchasing ahead of time on ParkWhiz is recommended. Rates will switch at 2 p.m. and Temple West and Trinity Health Garages may be the best options for PWHL fans.

Fans can access their parking structures and entry gates at Little Caesars Arena easily, using what3words and can find all information necessary before attending the game here.

PUBLIC PRACTICES ON SATURDAY

The PWHL team practices on Saturday will be open to the public, free of charge. 300 fans can watch New York and Minnesota practicing on the BELFOR ice at Little Caesars Arena. The first 50 fans will be selected for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing opportunity with New York players following their practice, and the next 50 will get to do the same with Minnesota. The BELFOR Entrance at Little Caesars Arena will open to the public for practices at 11 a.m.

Tweet of note: Caputo on Mrazek

Per 97.1 the Ticket’s Pat Caputo:

Press release: Red Wings confirm Mrazek-and-Smith for Veleno trade

From the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS ACQUIRE CRAIG SMITH AND PETR MRÁZEK FROM CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS IN EXCHANGE FOR JOE VELENO

  … Smith Has Recorded 450 Points in 968 Games with Nashville, Boston, Washington, Dallas and Chicago Since 2011-12; Mrázek Has Posted 178-174-40 Record in 423 Appearances with Detroit, Philadelphia, Carolina, Toronto and Chicago Since 2012-13 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired forward Craig Smith and goaltender Petr Mrázek from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Joe Veleno.

Smith, 35, has skated in 40 games with the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 season, recording 16 points (9-7-16) and 28 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound forward spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Dallas Stars, logging 20 points (11-9-20), a plus-two rating and 33 penalty minutes in 75 regular-season games, in addition to two assists in 14 postseason contests. Originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Smith has racked up 450 points (220-230-450), a plus-90 rating and 389 penalty minutes in 968 games with the Predators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Stars and Blackhawks since 2011-12. He has also totaled 23 points (9-14-23) and 20 penalty minutes in 83 playoff matchups, helping the Predators reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Smith also tallied five points (1-4-5) in four games with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, along with eight points (4-4-8) in eight games with KalPa Kuopio in Finland’s top professional league during the 2012-13 season.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings confirm Mrazek-and-Smith for Veleno trade