Jeremy Laura: Vrana scores 4(!), Panik pots his first as Wings push back, avenge Larkin

Stevie just took the lead in making the better trade!!!

I guess the Wings should play without their "stars" more often. They seem to bond together for a win. But for 46 SOG, thank you Mr. Greiss!

Vrana sounded very humble during his after game interview.

Jeremy Laura: Vrana scores 4(!), Panik pots his first as Wings push back, avenge Larkin
- Jeremy Laura

And somehow the first overall with Vrana contributed

Nah vrana is a scrub. Pure puck luck. He won’t amount to much without a full top 6 to shelter him like he’s used to.

Ummmmm. K. What are you trying to say?

Nah vrana is a scrub. Pure puck luck. He won’t amount to much without a full top 6 to shelter him like he’s used to.
- 10inchTerror

Yeah. Pure luck. Good call. Would've imagined that he'd be in the ECHL, according your crack analysis and in-depth knowledge of games and players. Thanks, EdZo, nice of you to drop in on Jeremey's blog....

Vrana sounded very humble during his after game interview.
- Tee56

I didn't see the post-game. Strikes me as a good kid, for sure. I said this when the trade was announced: I'm not judging for a while. Honestly, it looks like both teams benefitted from the trade. But Lordy-Gordie, that kid's got wheels, doesn't he?!?!?!

Wait, I thought Vrana was a grinder?

Yeah. Pure luck. Good call. Would've imagined that he'd be in the ECHL, according your crack analysis and in-depth knowledge of games and players. Thanks, EdZo, nice of you to drop in on Jeremey's blog....
- mcmastermike1968

Well I should fit right in here then with all the great player analysis.

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.

I didn't see the post-game. Strikes me as a good kid, for sure. I said this when the trade was announced: I'm not judging for a while. Honestly, it looks like both teams benefitted from the trade. But Lordy-Gordie, that kid's got wheels, doesn't he?!?!?!
- mcmastermike1968

He is a great kid, going to be a fan favorite for sure. I loved him in Washington and I am going to love him more in Detroit now that he can be the man.

Nah vrana is a scrub. Pure puck luck. He won’t amount to much without a full top 6 to shelter him like he’s used to.
- 10inchTerror

I also suspect the 10INch Terror is actually a 2 inch hard to find terror

He is a great kid, going to be a fan favorite for sure. I loved him in Washington and I am going to love him more in Detroit now that he can be the man.
- joegreif17

He seems like a good snag, thus far. The problem many of us had with the deal was Mantha was somewhat of a fan favorite. Opinions and perceptions varied. Vrana could very well turn out benefitting from the move; in fact, thus far, both players seem to be. He may very well grow on folks....

He is a great kid, going to be a fan favorite for sure. I loved him in Washington and I am going to love him more in Detroit now that he can be the man.
- joegreif17

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.

grinder extraordinaire!

Not bad for a speedy grinder....

Yeah. Pure luck. Good call. Would've imagined that he'd be in the ECHL, according your crack analysis and in-depth knowledge of games and players. Thanks, EdZo, nice of you to drop in on Jeremey's blog....
- mcmastermike1968

His analysis is actually Jeremy's analysis of Vrana at the time of the trade. You must be new here.

He seems like a good snag, thus far. The problem many of us had with the deal was Mantha was somewhat of a fan favorite. Opinions and perceptions varied. Vrana could very well turn out benefitting from the move; in fact, thus far, both players seem to be. He may very well grow on folks....
- mcmastermike1968

Vrana was scoring goals at elite rates in Washington, but stuck in third line minutes. And I do mean ELITE rates. As in, top five in the entire NHL since 2018 rates.

Even if you take the position that Vrana’s stats in Washington were padded due to good teammates and being sheltered behind guys like Ovechkin and Kuznetsov (which, in fairness, was true to an extent), that still doesn’t explain how a guy can wind up with only three guys ahead of him on the goals / 60 leaderboard over the last three seasons. (After last night’s game, he’s only trailing Matthews, Gallagher, and Ovechkin.)

Put Erne or Helm or Namestnikov on Washington’s third line and, trust me, they are not suddenly going to start potting even-strength goals at a faster rate than Kucherov or Pastrnak or Draisaitl. But Vrana did.

Obviously he’s not going to pot 4 per game in Detroit. It’s going to be harder to score goals per minute of ice time. But the evidence always suggested that if he got first line minutes in Detroit he was going to be very productive.

I think my working theory of Vrana is basically:

Dude is a crazy fast skater and a crazy good sniper, so he is very good at suddenly making things happen out of nowhere. You think nothing is going on, and then BOOM, the puck is in the back of the opponent’s net somehow.

On the other hand, he’s not necessarily especially great at protecting the puck, building up and supporting sustained possession, or defensive play. Not saying he’s bad at those things, just not particularly great at them. Middle of the pack. Certainly not as good as Mantha was.

So while on the one hand he is amazingly productive over the long run, on the other hand in the games where he doesn’t get on the scoresheet or make an amazing individual play, he doesn’t seem all that noticeable. Which leads observers to the (mistaken, IMO) impression that he “takes nights off” or that he’s not giving his full effort all the time.

I think it’s fair to acknowledge the weaknesses in Vrana’s game, and I hope he continues to work on becoming a more well rounded player. On the other hand, let’s not blow the relatively minor flaws he does have completely out of proportion either.

Without naming names, if I told you the Red Wings could add a guy who was a little above average at generating chances for teammates, a little below average defensively, and an absolutely elite finisher, you’d be thrilled. That’s Vrana, essentially. My impression, at least.

I’m having trouble locating this stat anywhere...
Does anyone know how many hat tricks Mantha has scored for Washington?

It's good to see the Wings turning things around and playing the spoiler. Just don't do it against Tampa. We are having enough problems already.

vrrrrrana

It's good to see the Wings turning things around and playing the spoiler. Just don't do it against Tampa. We are having enough problems already.
- GalacticStone

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.