from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

So more goodbyes may be coming, with Tyler Bertuzzi and Jakub Vrana most likely to depart....

There never was any danger of Larkin walking all the way to free agency, but that is not the case with Bertuzzi, who is on an expiring contract. Yzerman's task is to put a competitive product on the ice, while prioritizing the future. If he doesn't think he can get Bertuzzi signed to an extension, the best course is to trade him rather than risk Bertuzzi going to free agency and getting nothing in return. Trading his rights is a possibility, but that wouldn't yield as good a return as moving him at the deadline, when buyers pay premium prices to stock up for the playoffs.

Bertuzzi, 28, is a goal scorer and a pest, but his significant injury history over the past two years (back surgery in 2021, surgery on both hands this season) has limited his availability and clouded contract talks. The Wings were looking for something in the mid-term range — around five years — while Bertuzzi's side was looking for an eight-year commitment.

The Wings came into the season having earmarked Bertuzzi and Vrana for 30 goals apiece, but both were gone in the first week. Vrana was placed in the NHL and NHLPA's players assistance program Oct. 15, and reinstated two months later. Ever since Yzerman placed Vrana, 27, on waivers Jan. 3, it has been clear Yzerman is ready to part with the skilled forward.

There's a year left on Vrana's contract with a $5.25 million salary cap hit, but the Wings have the space to retain 50% of that if it helps facilitate a trade. Vrana has no points in the three games he has played since being called up by the Wings in mid-February, but rejoined the NHL after a four-month absence and that is a tough task.

more ($)