Red Wings send Mantha to Capitals for Panik, Vrana, picks

The Hockey Central panel react to the news that the Washington Capitals have made a blockbuster trade for Anthony Mantha.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman closed out the trade deadline with a bang, sending forward Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals.

In return, the Red Wings received forwards Richard Panik and Jakub Vrana, plus a first-round pick in 2021 and a second-round pick in 2022.

Mantha was selected 20th overall by the Red Wings in 2013, registering 95 goals and 99 assists in 305 career regular-season games but never competed in the post-season. The Longueuil, Que., native will get his first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Capitals this year.

The 26-year-old has three years remaining on his contract that comes with an annual salary cap hit of $5.7 million. Mantha’s 11 goals this season were leading the Red Wings at the time of the trade.

Vrana has four more points than Mantha in three fewer games played this season. The 25-year-old was selected 13th overall by the Capitals in 2014 and has 157 points so far in his 284-game career.

The Prague native also contributed eight points in 23 games back in 2018 during Washington’s Stanley Cup run.

Vrana’s current cap hit is $3.35 million and he becomes a restricted free agent at the conclusion of this seaon.

Panik, 30, has nine points in 36 games this season and is signed through 2023.

April 12, 2021 - 3:44 pm ET
det Detroit Red Wings
Acquire
  • Jakub Vrana
  • Richard Panik
  • First-round pick (2021)
  • Second-round pick (2022)
was Washington Capitals
Acquire
  • Anthony Mantha
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.