The entire Red Wings fan base baffled with an utterly unexpected move at this year’s trade deadline.
At this point, it’s safe to say that unless your name happens to be “Steve Yzerman,” no one truly knows what Detroit’s general manager is planning. This unpredictability often leads to fans experiencing a whirlwind of emotions all at once.
Yzerman’s latest trade—sending Joe Veleno to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Craig Smith and Petr Mrazek—was met with immediate confusion, frustration, and ultimately a mix of both. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them. The move came out of nowhere and doesn’t seem to significantly impact the team in either direction.
Many fans were left scratching their heads, especially over the addition of Mrazek. While he’s been solid, his $4.25 million cap hit for another season isn’t exactly ideal. Smith provides some depth and is a slight upgrade over Veleno, but he’s a pending UFA. Given the situation, it feels like another move involving a Detroit goaltender could be on the horizon.
During his trade deadline press conference, Yzerman explained that while the team had pursued multiple players, the asking prices were simply too steep to justify making a deal.
Fans Left Puzzled by Yzerman’s Trade Strategy
The logic behind the trade remains questionable. While Smith is a marginal improvement over Veleno, Mrazek’s arrival does little besides adding to the payroll and potentially creating another obstacle for Sebastian Cossa’s path to the NHL.
The biggest question on fans’ minds was simple: “Why Mrazek?” Goaltending was certainly an area of concern, but he wasn’t exactly a top candidate for resolving that issue. However, with high price tags on other available players, Yzerman’s options were limited.
Names like Jordan Binnington and John Gibson were rumored to be available, further fueling the frustration among Red Wings supporters. The confusion quickly turned into disappointment, with some fans questioning Yzerman’s long-term vision—the “Yzerplan”—and even calling for his dismissal.
In his presser, Yzerman reiterated that Detroit wasn’t willing to sacrifice first- and second-round picks or top prospects like Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka. He also emphasized the importance of acquiring players who fit the team’s age range and weren’t just short-term rentals. Those who did meet these criteria were simply too expensive, and he wasn’t willing to compromise the franchise’s future for a marginal playoff push.
Fans should remember that Detroit is still only a few years removed from being one of the worst teams in NHL history. Additionally, the previous management’s poor drafting left Yzerman with little to build upon when he took over in 2019. With Veleno now gone, only three Ken Holland draft picks remain in the organization—Dylan Larkin, Michael Rasmussen, and Jonatan Berggren (the lone 2018 selection still on the roster).
This trade serves as another reminder of just how little Yzerman inherited when he stepped into the GM role.