from Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun,

Size must really matter in Washington.

On the surface, that would appear to be the big reason the Capitals agreed to throw in so many extras when they traded Jakub Vrana (6-feet, 197 pounds) to the Detroit Red Wings for Anthony Mantha (6-foot-5, 234 pounds) at the deadline.

There’s not much else separating the principal pieces of this season’s blockbuster.

The 25-year-old Vrana, selected 13th overall in 2014, had 11 goals and 25 points in 39 games at the time of the trade.

In 2019-20, his best of five seasons with the Capitals, he scored 25 goals and 52 points in 69 games.

The 26-year-old Mantha, picked 20th overall in 2013, had 11 goals and 21 points in 42 games when the deal was consummated.

In 2018-19, his best of five seasons with the Red Wings, he had 25 goals and 23 assists in 67 games.

And it’s not like one has proven to be more clutch than the other when the chips are down.

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