Steve Yzerman has one rule and that rule is why he waived Jakub Vrana

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Liam
January 11, 2023 (4:31 PM)

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Earlier this week, the Detroit Red Wings surprised the league by waiving the young, promising forward Jakub Vrana. After spending time recovering from injury and in the NHL Player's Assistance Program, Vrana is now finding himself playing an extended stint with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffiths. Friedman explained the thought process in his latest edition of the 32 Thoughts blog.

The Red Wings made that decision with other players coming back from injury, and the incoming cap crunch. The team opted to keep Robby Fabbri and Tyler Bertuzzi on the roster in Vrana's place, because they believe those two have been outperforming Vrana.

I remember a few years ago doing an interview with Steve Yzerman (still a player at the time), talking about opportunities being «deserved." The move was jarring when I first saw it, but the more I thought about it, the more I got it.

Vrana's struggled in his return to the AHL, while some of Detroit's younger players, particularly, Jonatan Berggren, grabbed the NHL opportunity. Head coach Derek Lalonde initially said he wanted to keep his young players in the lineup when Robby Fabbri returned, but the final decision was his GM's. Yzerman's a big believer in playing those who deserve to play. And, when you're trying to build yourself into a winner, you have to stick to that.

It's interesting to hear that the roster move was essentially a lineup move, and done with synchronicity between the GM Yzerman and Head Coach Lalonde.

Vrana is still an incredibly promising player, who has scored with ruthless efficiency at times in his career. In just 26 games with the Wings last year, Vrana scored 13 goals, and has had extended runs of success with his previous team, the Washington Capitals.

He has two years remaining on a contract that pays him $5.25M annually, a contract that he signed with the Red Wings. The team must still be hoping Vrana can regain his game in the AHL, but the possibility of a trade has to be explored in the best interest of the team.

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JANVIER 11 \| 1442 ANSWERS Steve Yzerman has one rule and that rule is why he waived Jakub Vrana Will the Detroit Red Wings win a Cup under Steve Yzerman?
Yes, absolutely	861	59.7 %
They likely will	340	23.6 %
I'm not sure	132	9.2 %
No they won't	109	7.6 %
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