Caps trade Vrana, Panik aquire Mantha from Red Wings

The Washington Capitals have traded forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Anthony Mantha. Vrana who is one of their Stanley Cup heros has been a constant offensive player for the Capitals. Vrana brought speed to the Caps but his defensive play had not been improving.

The Capitals have also sent a 2021 first round draft pick and a 2022 second round draft pick to the Red Wings.

Here is the Capitals press release.

Capitals Acquire Anthony Mantha from Detroit Red Wings
The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings for forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, a 2021 first round pick and a 2022 second round pick.

The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings for forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, a 2021 first round pick and a 2022 second round pick, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Mantha is signed through the 2023-24 season with a $5.7 millon AAV.
Mantha, 26, a native of Longueuil, Quebec, recorded 21 points (11g, 10a) in 42 games with the Red Wings this season. The 6’5″, 234-pound forward led Detroit with 11 goals and ranked second with 21 points. Mantha led Detroit with 19 even strength points (9g, 10a) and was tied for third with two power play goals.
During the 2019-20 season, Mantha ranked third on the team in goals (16), tied for third in assists (22) and third in points (38) despite playing in only 43 of the team’s 71 games due to injury. Mantha was on pace for his best statistical season in 2019-20, as his 0.88 points-per-game average eclipsed his previous best of 0.71, accomplished in the 2018-19 season when he notched a career-high 25 goals and 48 points in 67 games. In 302 career games, all with Detroit, Mantha has collected 194 points (95g, 99a). Since his NHL debut on March 15, 2016, Mantha is tied with Dylan Larkin for the most goals on the Red Wings (95g) and has led the team in goals per game (0.31) during that span. Additionally, Mantha has led Detroit in goals per game in two of the last four seasons (2017-18 and 2019-20) and has ranked in the top-three on the team in goals in each of his five full NHL seasons (2016-2021). During this span, Mantha also led Detroit with a 52.5 shot attempt percentage at five-on-five (4,079 for, 3,677 against). Mantha’s 6.6 relative shot attempt percentage at five-on-five during this span is the second-highest percentage in the NHL among players with at least 200 games played, trailing only Boston’s Patrice Bergeron (7.2 percent).
Mantha was selected by Detroit in the first round, 20th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft. Mantha’s 0.31 goals per game ranks sixth among players in the 2013 NHL Draft class with at least 200 games played.
Prior to the NHL, Mantha appeared in 132 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), recording 88 points (44g, 44a). Mantha played four seasons with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the QMJHL, recording 260 points (129g, 131a) in 189 games. In his final season in the QMJHL in 2013-14, Mantha won the Jean Beliveau Trophy with the most points in the QMJHL (57g, 63a, 120p), the Michel Briere Trophy as the most valuable player in the QMJHL and was named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year.
Internationally, Mantha appeared in the 2019 World Championship for Team Canada, recording 14 points (7g, 7a) in nine games, earning a silver medal. Additionally, Mantha represented Canada at the 2014 World Junior Championship, recording 11 points (5g, 6a) in seven games.
Vrana, 25, has recorded 25 points (11g, 14a) in 39 games this season. The 6’0″, 197-pound forward has recorded 157 points (76g, 81a) in 284 career games with the Capitals. He was drafted by Washington in the first-round, 13th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft.
Panik, 30, has recorded nine points (3g, 6a) in 36 games this season. The 6’2″, 203-pound forward has recorded 31 points (12g, 19a) in 95 games with the Capitals.

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