The splits this season are hilarious. Points percentage against Detroit in 2021:

Florida: .750
Chicago: .750
Nashville: .750
Dallas: .714
Tampa: .667
Carolina: .500
Columbus: .500

With Florida being really the only exception, we are competitive against the top and bottom of the division but getting destroyed by the bubble teams.
- Sven22

Genuinely impressed by how hard the Wings work.

Talent level isn't quite there yet, but the guys play with a lot of pride. Playing them is definitely not a night off. If they can maintain that work ethic and keep building the talent level they're going to be great.

Think they're going to leapfrog a lot of central division teams next season.

Genuinely impressed by how hard the Wings work.

Talent level isn't quite there yet, but the guys play with a lot of pride. Playing them is definitely not a night off. If they can maintain that work ethic and keep building the talent level they're going to be great.

Think they're going to leapfrog a lot of central division teams next season.
- BINGO!

The main Achilles heel for the Red Wings IMO is that they can't play from behind.

They work hard, and the defense is usually pretty solid, but they have a really hard time generating offense and if they're forced to try to open the game up and take more risks to make up a 2+ goal deficit it usually results in them getting shelled.

If the puck luck isn't against them they can hang with anybody, but surrender a couple of goals early due to bad bounces or unfortunate mistakes and they're cooked. They have no path back.

10Inch Terror that is where you are wrong. I stated that when the trade was made that there is a good chance this is what Vrana needs, a chance to be that go to guy. In Washington he was an after thought from day one with OV, Backstrom, Oshie, Wilson and Kuznetsov ahead of him and Ovie is pretty much everything. Now Vrana can be the guy and so far it looks good. He has all the skills, skating, shooting, hockey sense and I believe this will be a Yzerman win big time.
- joegreif17

Jamie oleksiak had an end to end rush goal the other day so every player gets a bit of luck here and there. So baby Jesus parted the Dead Sea for vrana 4 times last night. Those things happen, case in point Rocco Grimaldi. Vrana needs to stick to grinding and bottom 6 intangibles you can’t see on a score sheet.

It’s nice when bottom 6 depth contributes but leave the scoring for the big guns like... Larkin.. Erne?

Genuinely impressed by how hard the Wings work.

Talent level isn't quite there yet, but the guys play with a lot of pride. Playing them is definitely not a night off. If they can maintain that work ethic and keep building the talent level they're going to be great.

Think they're going to leapfrog a lot of central division teams next season.
- BINGO!

They won't be in the central next year

The main Achilles heel for the Red Wings IMO is that they can't play from behind.

They work hard, and the defense is usually pretty solid, but they have a really hard time generating offense and if they're forced to try to open the game up and take more risks to make up a 2+ goal deficit it usually results in them getting shelled.

If the puck luck isn't against them they can hang with anybody, but surrender a couple of goals early due to bad bounces or unfortunate mistakes and they're cooked. They have no path back.
- Sven22

That comes with winning, I think. When you've lost as many games over the past few years as they have, it's tough to not go "here we go again" and let things get out of hand.

You've gotta have that belief that you're going to win every game as you go into it and that you're not out of it until it's over. It takes a while for that one to happen, believe me.

They won't be in the central next year
- GPHawksfan

ah right. they should probably just disband the division entirely based on the performances of the teams that are supposed to be in it.

Not bad for a speedy grinder....
- j.boyd919

I think from the Capitals' perspective they became a less balanced/complete team by trading Vrana. It is not that Mantha isn't good it is just that they already have lots of players like him but not many like Vrana.

I am not sure how the Red Wings plan on using him long term (assuming they resign him) but his speed and ability to get behind defenses makes him an offensive threat every time he steps on the ice.

From the Penguins' perspective I am glad they will not have to deal with Vrana in the playoffs, should the matchup happen. He was always burning the Penguins' defense.

I think from the Capitals' perspective they became a less balanced/complete team by trading Vrana. It is not that Mantha isn't good it is just that they already have lots of players like him but not many like Vrana.

I am not sure how the Red Wings plan on using him long term (assuming they resign him) but his speed and ability to get behind defenses makes him an offensive threat every time he steps on the ice.

From the Penguins' perspective I am glad they will not have to deal with Vrana in the playoffs, should the matchup happen. He was always burning the Penguins' defense.
- PghPens668771

In practical terms I think the Capitals got better by switching Vrana out for Mantha, but 97% of the reason is because Laviolette is a bad coach (or at least has a pretty bad blind spot when it comes to certain types of players).

Washington probably would have been better off in the long run keeping Vrana, actually giving him 17-18 minutes per night, and keeping their draft picks. But since Lavy wasn't going to do that, and they didn't seem too interested in firing him, might as well make a sidegrade from a player the coach hates to a player he will actually use.

Larkin shut down for the season. Good times.

Larkin shut down for the season. Good times.
- Sven22

Can Vranna play center?

Can Vranna play center?
- HenryHockey

Screw it, how bout we just run a 10-8 lineup with three lines, four defense pairings and a spare forward.

EDIT:

Vrana - Rasmussen - Zadina
Svechnikov - Namestnikov - Gagner
Helm - Glendening - Erne
Panik

Cholowski - Hronek
Staal - Stecher
DeKeyser - Lindstrom
Djoos - Biega

I mean, I'm joking here but also why not, at this point.

EDIT 2: probably ought to make Filppula the spare since he can actually kinda sorta play center, but whatever, this is just for fun.

Vrana was a legend in DC! Happy to see him doing well in Detroit. His ice time is up about 2.5 minutes per game compared to what it was in Washington this year. He also is averaging 2.5 shots/game in Detroit through four games. He averaged 1.74 shots per game in 39 games in DC. With an increased role, Detroit is a perfect fit for Vrana.
- Brian Sickles

Totally agree and basically what I was saying initially, I think it can be a good trade for both teams. I have always liked Mantha as well but his untimely injuries and his likeliness to play all season without something going wrong is slim. As big as he is he is not a gritty player, reminds me of Eric Daze but no doubt he should benefit in DC

Jamie oleksiak had an end to end rush goal the other day so every player gets a bit of luck here and there. So baby Jesus parted the Dead Sea for vrana 4 times last night. Those things happen, case in point Rocco Grimaldi. Vrana needs to stick to grinding and bottom 6 intangibles you can’t see on a score sheet.

It’s nice when bottom 6 depth contributes but leave the scoring for the big guns like... Larkin.. Erne?
- 10inchTerror

You are delusional 10", comparing Vrana to grinders shows how well you can evaluate talent. Vrana imo can not even be called a grinder because he does not grind, he is a speed demon who snipes, every team needs a guy like him. Grinders are a dime a dozen unlike Vrana.

You are delusional 10", comparing Vrana to grinders shows how well you can evaluate talent. Vrana imo can not even be called a grinder because he does not grind, he is a speed demon who snipes, every team needs a guy like him. Grinders are a dime a dozen unlike Vrana.
- joegreif17

It's a shot at the DET blogger calling Vrana a "Helm-like grinder" in a previous post. Yes, Darren Helm.