Yzerman talks 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Red Wings’ playoff push and more

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings made two moves prior to the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, acquiring forward Craig Smith and goalie Petr Mrazek from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Joe Veleno. Additionally, Detroit received a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for cap space that helped complete a three-team trade with the Seattle Kraken and Tampa Bay Lightning.

And in discussing the Red Wings’ approach to this year’s Trade Deadline after it had passed, Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman was clear that they weren’t interested in mortgaging a bright organizational future.

“I wouldn't say we did everything we wanted to do, but we had areas that we wanted to address,” Yzerman said in a Zoom call with the media on Friday afternoon. “As you all know, we’ve had a tough stretch here recently, but we’re still in the thick of things for those Wild-Card spots, so we still want to give ourselves the best chance we can to compete for a playoff spot here…. We didn’t sacrifice or give up future assets, which we weren’t prepared to do for a rental player. And honestly, there weren’t a lot of options for moves that worked for us or fit with the age group of our players or on players with terms on their contracts.”

In Smith, the Red Wings are getting a forward who has 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 40 games with the Blackhawks this season. The pending unrestricted free agent has recorded 450 points (220 goals, 230 assists) with the Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Dallas Stars and Blackhawks since 2011-12.

“Acquiring Craig is a different player than Joe,” Yzerman said. “A right shot that is more of a shooter. I hope that he can offset the loss of, again a different type of player, Christian Fischer and Carter [Mazur]. I think that he’ll be a guy that can generate a little bit of offense, create some chances and hopefully they go in not only for him but the guys he’s playing with.”

There’s also the return of Mrazek, who was originally selected by Detroit in the fifth round (No. 141 overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and spent parts of six seasons (2012-18) with the organization. Under contract through the 2025-26 campaign, Mrazek has appeared in 33 games with Chicago this season, posting a 10-19-2 record with a 3.46 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.

“It's a strange time in the NHL for goaltenders,” Yzerman pointed out. “The people that played with and were here in the organization when Petr was here early in his career really support him, the person, and his competitiveness. It's up and down around the League. We look at goals-against averages and save percentage of the goaltenders, and it's a bit all over the place. One thing that was also attractive to us is he’s signed for another season. And the goalie market right now, looking into the summer, what goalies are signing for, the term and the dollar amounts, for what our options were today and what our options might be in the offseason, we thought it was good insurance for us… We think his competitiveness and experience will give us some quality starts.”

When asked if losing Andrew Copp, who underwent successful surgery to repair his left pectoral tendon on Feb. 25, to a season-ending injury altered the Red Wings’ Trade Deadline plans, Yzerman said they explored different ways to try to fill that lineup void.

“We did look at the opportunity of, if we could have done anything at that position, trying to bring in more of an offensive-minded guy,” Yzerman said. “And if we couldn’t do that, we try to bring in a winger to make up for the loss of Andrew. We weren’t able to do that, honestly. With those players available, the high-profile or higher-end guys, you saw what they went for. We’re not in a position to do that today. And even as far as the centerman position goes, even on a lesser-known guy, unless we were prepared to get into first- and second-round picks and good prospects, there weren’t a lot available for us, so we really couldn’t address the position.”

Yzerman added that he’s “certainly pleased, for the most part,” with how the players have responded since head coach Todd McLellan took over behind the bench on Dec. 26.

Including Thursday night’s 4-2 loss to the Utah Hockey Club at Little Caesars Arena, the Red Wings had a 17-9-2 record under McLellan.

“I believe Todd is very good coach and he’ll do a good job moving forward with us,” Yzerman said. “Got us into the playoff race, but now here, we’ve got to see if we can win hockey games, obviously, and win a lot of them. But I wasn’t sure what to expect coming out of the coaching change, honestly. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but felt it was the right thing to do at the time, and I still do. And again, it wasn’t just to get through the season. It’s hopefully, and I expect it to be, a long-term thing.”

And entering Friday, Detroit (30-26-6; 66 points) was just one point out of the Eastern Conference’s second Wild-Card spot with 20 regular-season games to go.

“It's going to be an incredibly exciting playoff run where we're looking at it,” Yzerman said. “I think it's going to be an exciting battle, and I’m hoping that we can remain in it for those Wild-Card spots too. The NHL is having a great year, and a lot of excitement in these moves here, particularly in the East, are going to make it very interesting.”

Regardless how the Red Wings finish this season, building the club back into a sustainable winner remains Yzerman’s ultimate goal.

“I’m going to continue doing what I think is right and here at the deadline, over the course of the summer, at the draft, and always do that,” Yzerman said. “I want to make the playoffs. I want to win a Stanley Cup as much as anybody in this city, and I take full responsibility for where we’re at today. I’m going to make the best decisions that I can for us, short-term and long-term, and not feel like I’m doing that I’m doing anything that is right for me. It’s going to be right for the team.”