from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman gets a top grade at the NHL trade deadline, unloading an underachiever and adding to the team’s short-term and longer-term gain without sacrificing flexibility.
He found a taker for Anthony Mantha, a superbly skilled but equally frustrating player, in the Washington Capitals, and banked a first-round pick and a former-first round pick in Jakub Vrana among the return.
“We’re trying to add draft picks or prospects to expedite the rebuild that we’re under,” Yzerman said. “This was an opportunity to acquire picks but still try to keep as competitive as possible.
“We feel like we get a replacement for the offense that we’re losing and a player at the position we’re losing in trading Anthony in acquiring Jakub.”...
“As we were getting to the trade deadline, we were talking to teams around the league to try and see if there is a fit in what we’re trying to do,” Yzerman said. “We felt like we could get a replacement for Anthony and add picks as well.
“I think Anthony Mantha is a very talented hockey player. I hope he does well, and I expect him to do well in Washington.”
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