Nobody Is Going To Claim Vrana

Team: 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 3, 2023

Published: Jan. 3, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Lots to unpack here but, after all the moves Yzerman has made in his career, this one might be up there with the shrewdest.

Vrana is obviously too good of a player to just simply give away for nothing. So, why would Yzerman risk doing just that? Could there be more than meets the eye regarding Vrana and his personal absence that would indicate an even further absence potentially?

You would have to assume that potential claiming teams are aware of the risks regarding Vrana that the public does not.

Vrana is owed nearly $11m over the next two seasons and aside from his personal absences, he’s struggled to stay healthy otherwise during his brief stint in Detroit - would a team make that sort of a commitment to what is becoming one of the more precarious players in the league?

The red wings are currently caught in a unique position with several players returning from injury (absences) soon (Fabbri, Bertuzzi & the aforementioned Vrana), and were going to have to send down players like Joe Veleno, Elmer Soderblom or Jonatan Berggren down to Grand Rapids but, they’re all in the midst of developing into very fine players.

If Vrana is claimed - what are teams getting in him or out of him? Will they be saving Detroit from further detriment, distraction, wasted salary?

If Vrana is not claimed, he goes to Grand Rapids where he was already going for a conditioning stint.

All in all, Yzerman made the bold call to dangle a player out there who he knows is too risky financially for a team to claim and none of us thought of it.

As tough as I have been on Yzerman over the years, it’s moves like this that essentially put me in my place and remind me that this guy is just numerous steps ahead of not only me but even a majority of his peers.