Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Daily: Will Yzerman Make Another NHL Trade Deadline Splash? Mazur Named NCHC Rookie Of The Year

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2022

Bob Duff

Does Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman have another NHL Trade Deadline blockbuster up his sleeve?

With apologies to Merlin Malinowski, perhaps it’s time to give Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman a new nickname – The Magician.

Whether it’s selecting Calder Trophy favorite Moritz Seider way ahead of his expected draft call at sixth overall in 2019, or engineering the Anthony Mantha for Jakub Vrana deal at the very finish line of the 2021 NHL trade deadline, Yzerman does display a track record for pulling rabbits out of his hat – rabbits that he then turns into geese who lay golden eggs.

Based on his track record, The Hockey News is speculating that Stevie Y is the one to watch for the shocking move as Monday’s 3 p.m. ET NHL trade deadline approaches.

“Yzerman could be a traditional deadline seller by shopping pending unrestricted free agents such as Marc Staal, Vladislav Namestnikov, Nick Leddy or Thomas Greiss for draft picks and prospects,” The Hockey News noted. “However, the Mantha deal proved he’s unafraid to make a major move to accelerate his club’s rebuild process. The Wings GM could have another blockbuster in the works for this year’s deadline.”

Does Yzerman have something big up his sleeve? Would anyone be surprised if he did?

Red Wings Prospect Mazur Top Rookie

Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur is the NCHC rookie of the year. The 19-year-old forward from Jackson, Michigan, native leads all NCHC freshmen in scoring and is third among rookies in the country with 35 points, recording 14 goals and adding 21 assists. He was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for both November and December.

The top freshman in #NCHChockey this season…

Congrats to @DU_Hockey's @Carter_Mazur on winning the 2021-22 NCHC Rookie of the Year! #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/Fay7eEfVqp

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) March 17, 2022

Selected 70th overall by Detroit in the 2021 NHL entry draft, Mazur also leads all NCHC frosh in goals. He’s tied for 10th in the conference in overall scoring.

Griffins Fall In Rockford

Tyler Spezia netted their only goal Saturday as the Grand Rapids Griffins fell 5-1 on the road to the Rockford IceHogs. It was GR’s second straight setback.

Turner Elson saw his career-high five-game goal streak come to an end. Forward Jonatan Berggren returned to action following an absence due to a non-COVID illness.

Nedeljkovic A Wall For Red Wings

Who’s Hot: Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic blocked 76 straight shots over the past three games. Detroit goalies Nedeljkovic and Thomas Greiss combined to make 102 consecutive saves.

Who’s Not: Forward Jakub Vrana has gone four games without a goal. He’d never gone goalless for more than two games prior in his brief Detroit career.

NHL Trade Talk

The Boston Bruins landed defenseman Hampus Lindholm from the Anaheim Ducks. Boston Hockey Now’s Joe Haggerty believes it’s a move that makes the Bruins into true Stanley Cup contenders. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers won the Claude Giroux sweepstakes, acquiring the Philadelphia Flyers captain.

Sam Carchidi of Philadelphia Hockey Now is of the opinion that how Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher is able to reshape his club’s future over the next two days may also determine whether he has a future with the club. With the additions of Josh Manson and Nico Sturm, Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now suggests that this is Avs GM Joe Sakic going all-in to win the Stanley Cup.

Logan Thompson appears to have settled the backup goalie situation for the Vegas Golden Knights. Does that mean they’re done shopping for a veteran to pair with currently injured No. 1 Robin Lehner? The Washington Capitals were in on Nicolas Deslauriers before the Ducks ended up dealing him to the Minnesota Wild.

Bassed on the Brandon Hagel trade, does that up the value Montreal could realize from an Artturi Lehkonen trade?