from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,
This figures to be an exceptionally busy time for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman.
He just wrapped up five days of meetings with his inner circle during a stay in Las Vegas. The March 3 trade deadline is six weeks away, and the past stretch has exposed how much the needle still has to move on the rebuild. It isn’t just a matter of figuring out what players Yzerman can flip for assets, it’s also about who can be added.
One name that holds a great deal of interest for the Wings is Bo Horvat, a pending unrestricted free agent with the Vancouver Canucks who the Wings would love to see as their No. 1 center.
Horvat turns 28 in April. He is a consistent 20-goal scorer who topped 30 goals last season, and already has hit that mark this season. (He scored 19 goals in the pandemic-shortened 56-game season in 2021). The Wings would love to bid for his services on the free agent market, but the Canucks are likelier to deal him rather than lose him for nothing.
In order for a trade to happen, the Wings would need to be allowed to talk to Horvat’s agent regarding an extension, because they’re not in the market for a rental player. Beating out other interested teams likely would require an offer along the lines of Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen, and a first-round pick (the first-round pick would need to be protected, in case the Wings end up in the lottery with a shot at selecting first overall in 2023).
NO for Horvat in a trade, OK for a free agent. We need someone who can score Period! Hopefully Bertuzzi gets healthy for a good trade, I would also look at trading Larkin. Very few on this team is totally safe, we need a shakeup at the deadline.
from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,
The Alex Nedeljkovic demotion to the American Hockey League continues to have a positive impact on the Grand Rapids Griffins competitiveness.
Nedeljkovic made 29 saves to help the Griffins earn a point in a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday to the Springfield Thunderbirds. The Griffins (15-19-2) are sixth out seven teams in the Central Division. But Nedeljkovics record is 4-2-2 since being assigned to Grand Rapids. His goals-against average is 2.35 and his save percentage is .920. His stabilizing presence helps create a more competitive environment for Detroits young prospects.
Before Nedeljkovic arrived, the Griffins were relying on Jussi Olkinuora (6-8-0, 3.75 GAA and .868 save percentage) and Victor Brattstrom (2-6-2, 3.68, .887) in net.
In other Griffins news, Red Wings defensive prospect Albert Johansson (60th overall in 2019) and forward Jakub Vrana both scored their second goals of the AHL season.
Although the Griffins earned a point, the OT loss was disappointing. The Griffins owned a 2-0 first-period lead and couldnt hold on. Nikita Alexandrov scored the game-winner at 1;31 of OT against Nedeljkovic.
continue for the game highlights and a few other notes...
re: Stump23 - We need someone who can score Period!
suggest you consider one jakub vrana, currently a resident of grand rapids mi
trade the captain? curious to hear your rationale on that one.
also, suggest wings priority is D with size/attitude - need to keep their heads on a swivel, quit watching the puck.
If you have not read between the bright clear pulsing lines, Vrana is 100% done in Detroit. He might come back this year or next if Yzerman can't unload him, but I can not see any scenario in which Yzerman extends his UFA contract after next season.
from Kevin Allen of Detroit Hockey Now,
At this point, Detroit fans would rather be in the playoffs. But if you are going to miss the playoffs, you dont want to finish with the 12th worst-record. Under the current lottery rules, a team can now only move up 10 spots if it wins the lottery. That means you have to finish with no better than the 11th worst record if you want a shot at No. 1.
As of the morning, the Red Wings, based on points, have the ninth-worst record. If we use winning percentage, the Flyers have the ninth-worst record and Detroit would be 10th from the bottom. The Flyers have one more point, but Detroit has two games in hand.
Tankathon has Detroit this morning 10th from the bottom, giving the Red Wings a 3.5% chance of picking 1st, a 3.8% of picking second, and a 73.3% chance of drafting 10th, an 18.4% chance of picking 11th and a 0.9% chance of picking 12th.
moreIf the Wings are truly interested in Horvat, if this is legit, than Larkin is not being brought back.
In Yzerman and the Yzerplan I trust, but I think I'd rather have Larkin Velon and our 1st round pick vs. having Horvat. I guess the other side is what he would get by flipping Larkin.
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