Vancouver Canucks' Completed Trade with Detroit Red Wings Turning Out to Be a Win for Steve Yzerman
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings appear set to reap the rewards of a completed trade with the Vancouver Canucks back in March of 2023 that involved defenseman Filip Hronek.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has made his fair share of good trades while at the helm of the team, but also has completed some not-so-great ones as well.
The J.T. Miller trade with the New York Rangers is one fans weren't too pleased with initially, but due to circumstances out of his control, they needed to deal the centerman, but got a couple of nice pieces in return, while the deal between Chicago and Vancouver involving Ilya Mikheyev is starting to backfire.
It's still too early to give a conclusive answer on who won this trade, the Detroit Red Wings are likely quite pleased with a deal they made with the Vancouver Canucks ahead of the deadline during the 2022-23 campaign.
Detroit Red Wings set to reap the rewards of completed trade with Vancouver Canucks
Approaching the trade deadline in early 2023, the Vancouver Canucks were searching for some help on the backend, primarily a top-four defenseman, but Patrik Allvin knew that it wouldn't come cheap.
Even though the Canucks were 19 points out of a playoff spot, Patrik Allvin made a big splash on the trade market, acquiring defenseman Filip Hronek and a 2023 fourth round pick from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a conditional 2023 first round pick (previously added from the New York Islanders) and a second round pick that same year.
Now, that was quite a lot to give up, there's no doubt about that, any time a 25-year-old top-four defenseman becomes available, you have to jump at the opportunity and that's exactly what Patrik Allvin did.
Hronek has done a very respectable job during his time with the Canucks thus far, registering 82 points (ten goals, 72 assists), 78 penalty minutes and is a plus-32 in 146 games and has provided some stability and a solid partner for Quinn Hughes.
However, with that first round pick, the Detroit Red Wings selected Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, who was one of the best defensemen available in the 2023 Entry Draft and has developed into a legit top-four, maybe even top-pairing blueliner for the Original Six club.
The Gallivare, Sweden native is coming off his third year in the SHL with Skelleftea AIK where he set new career highs in goals (12), assists (17) and points (29), the latter of which was good enough for second on his team among defensemen.
"As for flipping Hronek? That was peak Steve Yzerman, taking advantage of his full value and two seasons of consistent play. He'd hit a career high of 48 points in 2023-24 with the Canucks.
Which may seem like the Red Wings may have lost the trade, but for the team, they'll see it pay off once Pellikka makes the jump to the NHL and takes a spot from a veteran placeholder in the NHL." Detroit Red Wings Insider said.
Which may seem like the Red Wings may have lost the trade, but for the team, they'll see it pay off once Pellikka makes the jump to the NHL and takes a spot from a veteran placeholder in the NHL." Detroit Red Wings Insider said.
Again, as mentioned, it's still a bit too early to fully evaluate this deal between Detroit and Vancouver, but if Axel Sandin-Pellikka ends up hitting his ceiling and develops into a first pairing defenseman, while Filip Hronek stays around a 35-point-per-season guy, Patrik Allvin may come to regret this move in the years to come.
Source: Detroit Red Wings Insider
Detroit Red Wings acquire elite level defenseman in completed trade with the Vancouver Canucks
Detroit Red Wings acquire elite level defenseman in completed trade with the Vancouver Canucks
| POLL | ||
AOUT 5 | 1707 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks' Completed Trade with Detroit Red Wings Turning Out to Be a Win for Steve Yzerman Who do you think won the Filip Hronek trade? | ||
| Vancouver Canucks | 860 | 50.4 % |
| Detroit Red Wings | 383 | 22.4 % |
| Still too early to say | 464 | 27.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
