Best moves of Steve Yzerman as GM of Detroit Red Wings
Since returning to the Detroit Red Wings as GM in April 2019, Steve Yzerman has been rebuilding the team he once captained to three Stanley Cup victories.
His strategic trades, free-agent signings, and draft picks contributed to this effort. Here's a look at some of Yzerman's most impactful trades:
Adding Robby Fabbri from St. Louis:
In November 2019, Yzerman traded Jacob De La Rose to the Blues for forward Robby Fabbri. Before the trade, Fabbri had only one point in nine games for St. Louis but ended the 2019-20 season with 31 points in 52 games for Detroit. Although injuries have occasionally sidelined him, Fabbri has been a reliable scorer, notching 48 goals and 47 assists in 166 games. Conversely, De La Rose struggled in St. Louis, accumulating just five points in 34 games before fading from the NHL.
Sending Mantha to Washington:
In April 2021, Yzerman traded Anthony Mantha to the Capitals for forwards Richard Panik and Jakub Vrana and two draft picks. Mantha, plagued by injuries, could not meet expectations in Detroit or Washington and eventually was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Vrana initially thrived in Detroit but was later traded to St. Louis due to injuries and other issues. The key pieces from this trade were the draft picks, which Yzerman used to acquire top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa and rising star Dmitri Buchelnikov.
Acquiring Jake Walman from St. Louis:
In March 2022, Yzerman traded Nick Leddy and Luke Witkowski to the Blues for Oskar Sundqvist, Jake Walman, and a 2023 second-round pick. Walman became a top-pair defenseman alongside Moritz Seider, earning a contract extension before being traded to the Sharks in June 2024. Sundqvist also contributed before his trade to the Wild. The second-round pick became defenseman Andrew Gibson, a promising prospect.
Yzerman's savvy maneuvers in the trade market have significantly bolstered Detroit's rebuilding process, with several trades already paying dividends and others showing potential for the future.
Source: The Hockey Writer
Yzerman's Best Trades as Red Wings GM
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