The Daily: Former Red Wings Player Tomas Tatar Still Finding the Net

Tomas Tatar was a dependable goal scorer for Detroit Red Wings when they traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. Four years later, he’s still a valuable offensive player for the New Jersey Devils.

Since rejoining the Devils after a bout with COVID-19,  Tatar has scored in back-to-back games to give him eight goals. He is playing on the top line with Jack Hughes.

It’s not as if the Red Wings have regrets about trading him. Tomas Tatar is 31 now. He wouldn’t fit into Detroit’s rebuild. The Red Wings received a first- , second- and third-round pick from Vegas in the deal. The first round pick was rookie Joe Veleno who has some promise.

But at the very least, the Red Wings can say they got it right when they drafted Tatar in the second round. He has a shot at his seventh season of 20 or more goals this season. He also scored 19 goals for the Red Wings one season.

Tomas Tatar said this morning that he has felt "useless" these last few days not being able to play and being out with Covid.

Really channeled that here and scores a real big goal for #NJDevils. https://t.co/wF2v2ywlzv

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) January 5, 2022

Another Former Red Wing in ECHL

Defenseman Trevor Daley, who last played for the Red Wings 2019-20, is going to temporarily play with the Florida Everblades as they work through roster issues caused by COVID-19. He works for the Pittsburgh Penguins as a hockey operations adviser and he is not giving up that position.

Around the NHL

Detroit: Hockey Now writer Bob Duff says Filip Zadina needs to be more like Pius Suter if he wants to be a contributing NHL player.

Boston:  Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now details why the Bruins don’t think Trent Frederic’s hit against Kiril Kaprizov was malicious.

Minnesota: Wild star Kirill Kaprizov suffered an upper body injury on a hit by Frederic and there’s no timetable for his return. He won’t play Saturday against Washington.

Pittsburgh: Are the Penguins making room for Evgeni Malkin to return to the lineup? It looks that way.

Vancouver: Brock Boeser is now back in Vancouver’s lineup. But now Elias Pettersson is out with COVID-19