Jordan Wohl, Staff Writer
Photo//Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY SPORTS
Welcome to Wings Weekly: a regular column giving you a quick recap of the week that was and the week that will be for the 11-time Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.
Weekly Results (0-4-1):
Feb 27 @ Senators (Ranked 19/32 in NHL): 6-2 Loss
Feb 28 @ Senators (19): 6-1 Loss
Mar 2 vs Kraken (11): 5-4 OT Loss
Mar 4 @ NY Islanders (15): 4-1 Loss
Mar 5 @ Philadelphia (25): 3-1 Loss
Trade Deadline
Assets Going Out: Tyler Bertuzzi (2023 UFA), Filip Hronek (2024 RFA), Oskar Sundqvist, Jakub Vrana, 2023 4th Round Pick
Assets Coming In: 2023 1st Round Pick (NYI), 2024 1st Round Pick (BOS), 2023 2nd Round Pick, 2023 4th Round Pick, 2025 4th Round Pick, 2025 7th Round Pick, and prospect Dylan Mclaughlin
Bertuzzi to Boston
Forward Tyler Bertuzzi (50% salary retained) traded to the Boston Bruins for a Protected 2024 1st Round Pick* and a 2025 4th Round Pick.
*Protected First is top-10 protected, meaning that the Wings would receive Boston’s 2025 1st if the 2024 pick is a top-10 pick.
The Bertuzzi trade is getting a lot of criticism from fans across Hockeytown, but context is important. Bert has gone to contract arbitration with Yzerman twice due to fundamental disagreements on his monetary value, and he was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. With the arbitrations in mind, it is safe to assume that this trade is Steve Yzerman acknowledging that the Wings were unlikely to sign him anyways.
But as a fan, ask yourself this philosophical question: would you rather keep Bertuzzi for this playoff run that where the most likely scenario is a first round exit and losing Bert in the offseason for nothing, or are you okay with watching two months of bad hockey with a first round pick and a fourth rounder in your pocket for the future? With prospects like Edvinsson, Soderblom, and Kasper on the way, adding another first-round talent to this roster makes all the sense in the world.
Hronek to Vancouver
Filip Hronek and a 2023 4th Round Pick traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a Conditional 2023 1st Round Pick* and a 2023 2nd Round Pick
*Conditional First is from NY Islanders, meaning that if the Islanders pick ends up as a top-12 pick then Detroit receives New York’s 2024 1st Round Pick.
The Hronek trade is monumental. Another Steve Yzerman masterpiece. To get two premium draft picks out of an inconsistent 2nd line defenseman with one year left on his deal is almost too good to be true.
Sundqvist to Minnesota
Forward Oskar Sundqvist traded to the Minnesota Wild for a 2023 4th Round Pick
Vrana to St. Louis
Forward Jakub Vrana traded to the St. Louis Blues for prospect Dylan Mclaughlin and a 2025 7th Round Pick
In Other News…
Larkin Contract Extension:
The Wings Captain and Michigan-native signed an 8-year deal, $69.6 million deal at an $8.7 AAV. To put that AAV (Average Annual Value) in context, here are comparable centers who have recently signed similar deals:
Husso Injury
Bellcow starting goaltender Ville Husso dealt with an undisclosed minor injury but returned to start Sunday’s game versus Philadelphia. There should not be any more to this story, but news will be updated if necessary.
Rasmussen Injury
Forward Michael Rasmussen has been a vital piece of Detroit’s middle-six forward group this year and will likely be sidelined for a while after blocking a shot just below his knee cap last week.
Projected Lines
Kubalik - Larkin - Raymond
Fabbri - Copp - Perron
Zadina - Veleno - Berggren
Erne - Suter - Chiasson
Walman - Seider
Maatta - Chiarot
Hagg - Oesterle
Hellberg
Nedeljkovic
Players In: Chiasson (Signing), Nedeljkovic (Emergency Call-Up), Raymond (Returned from IR), Erne (Had been a healthy scratch)
Players Out: Rasmussen (Injury) Husso (Injury), Bertuzzi (Trade), Vrana (Trade), Sundqvist (Trade), Hronek (Trade)
Upcoming Games
Wednesday, March 8 vs Chicago (2nd Worst team in NHL) (Home)
Saturday, March 11 @ Boston (Best team in NHL) (Away)
Sunday, March 12 vs Boston (Best team in NHL) (Home)
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