Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Trade Hronek to Canucks, Get First-Round Pick As Part of Package

Hronek was leading Detroit D in scoring

Published

1 year ago

March 1, 2023

Bob Duff

The Red Wings are trading D Filip Hronek to the Vancouver Canucks.

No longer do Detroit Red Wings fans need to wonder about whether team is buying or selling as the NHL trade deadline approaches. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman officially became a seller on Wednesday afternoon.

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today acquired a 1st round pick (NYI) and a 2nd round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Filip Hronek and a 2023 4th round pick. pic.twitter.com/hKVavLT9uW

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 1, 2023

The club traded veteran defenseman Filip Hronek to the Vancouver Canucks. In return, the Red Wings are getting first- and second-round picks in the 2023 NHL entry draft. Vancouver also gets Detroit’s 2023 fourth-round pick as part of the deal. The first-round draft choice is the one the Canucks recently acquired when they dealt center Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders.

Was Leading Red Wings D In Scoring

Overall, it’s been a bounceback campaign for Hronek. He endured a struggling 2021-22 campaign.

Working in Detroit’s second pairing first with Olli Maatta and more recently alongside Ben Chiarot, his 9-29-38 numbers were placing Hronek in a tie for second on the Red Wings in scoring. He was leading all Detroit defensemen in points. As well, his +9 rating was second on the team.

However, 24 of those points were garnered by Dec. 6, including a 14-point November. More recently, Hronek was showing just six points over his past 18 games, as well as a -5 rating. His dreadful first-period giveaway in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators led to a backbreaking shorthanded goal by Senators forward Austin Watson.

In recent weeks, Yzerman was signing Maatta and top-pairing defender Jake Walman to contract extensions. Both were due to become unresticted free agents at season’s end. That left Detroit with five defenseman under contract for next season. Chiarot and 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider are the others.

Hronek’s departure certainly is clearing a path for 2021 first-round draft pick Simon Edvinsson to play top-four minutes in Detroit next season. Edvinsson is currently playing his rookie pro season in North America with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

Hronek Injured In Tuesday Loss

Hronek left Tuesday’s loss to the Senators with an upper-body injury, so his immediate availability to play is unknown.

With Jordan Oesterle placed on injured reserve earlier this week, Hronek’s departure leaves the Red Wings with only six healthy defensemen. Anticipate a defender being called up from the AHL Griffins following their game on Wednesday night.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Red Wings were signing captain Dylan Larkin to an eight-year, $69.6-million contract extension.