Dear Red Wings: Vrana and the burgeoning, albeit short-term, offense; awaiting Hronek deal

The Detroit Red Wings avoided arbitration this week by agreeing to a three-year contract with left wing Jakub Vrana.

Now we wait to see what happens with Adam Erne and Filip Hronek, two key restricted free agents who remain unsigned.

Red Wings offensive group takes shape

Vrana signed for a reported $5.25 million each season through 2023-24. Compare that to the man he was traded for, Anthony Mantha, who carries a contract at $5.7 million through 2023-24. Vrana is 25 while Mantha is 26.

Vrana scored 24 goals in 2018-19 and followed that up with 25 goals the next season. He had 8 points in 23 playoffs games when the Capitals marched to the Stanley Cup, but then failed to register a point in his next two playoff campaigns.

Then he had 25 points in 39 games this past season for the Capitals before the trade. Vrana scored 8 goals and 3 assists for 11 points through 11 games with the Red Wings.

This deal is what we hoped to see after the trade and Vrana’s performance in those 11 games. Personally, I would have liked to see two years instead of three, but let’s be happy about this. I expect him to be someone who scores 25 goals, no less, and there is nothing more valuable than goals in the NHL. Nothing.

Vrana joins the burgeoning Red Wings offensive group of players all here for the relative short-term.

Here’s a look at that group and each player’s term:

• C/LW Dylan Larkin -- 25 years old -- 2 years remaining
• LW Jakub Vrana -- 25 years old -- 3 years remaining
• LW/RW Tyler Bertuzzi -- 26 years old -- 2 years remaining
• C/LW Pius Suter -- 25 years old -- 2 years remaining
• C/LW Robby Fabbri -- 25 years old -- 1 year remaining
• C/LW/RW Vladislav Namestnikov -- 28 years old -- 1 year remaining
• C Michael Rasmussen -- 22 years old -- 3 years remaining
• LW/RW Filip Zadina -- 21 years old -- 1 year remaining
• C Mitchell Stephens -- 24 years old -- 1 year remaining

I’d expect a two-year deal for Erne, who is 26 years old. He also filed for arbitration, but perhaps we’ll see a settlement for him as well. As I explained last week, most of the time the arbitration process is used to help speed up the contract negotiation.

Givani Smith, 23, also needs a contract. Perhaps that’s two or three years as well.

That list is so low-risk and trade-friendly. You have to love that. This is a group of players who have contracts to play for while Steve Yzerman works to reshape this squad.

Meanwhile, the Red Wings also kept depth center Chase Pearson on for another year. Pearson, 23, was drafted by Detroit in 2015, 140th overall in the 5th round. He played three seasons at the University of Maine, then joined Detroit’s AHL squad the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Pearson scored 22 points in 28 games played this past season with the Griffins. He became a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Again, this is a depth signing. Perhaps he slots in on the 4th line at some point throughout the 82-game campaign. That’s going to be easier to do this year with both the NHL and AHL planning to go ahead with normal schedules and less restrictions.

Filip Hronek is worth how much?

And, as mentioned, we’re waiting to find out defenseman Filip Hronek’s deal. The 23-year-old now has played 167 NHL games -- 16 goals and 64 assists. He led the Red Wings in ice time this past season at an average 23:23 per game. He appeared in all 56 games.

If you look around the league at other young defenseman who help anchor the blue line then you might expect a deal for Hronek that pulls $4 million year on a three to five-year term. Obviously the money per season would fluctuate based on term length. I think he’s worth $3-4 million against the cap right now. I would be very surprised to see Yzerman sign him for longer than five seasons, and ideally no more than three. But probably five because he’s only 23.

After the Vrana signing, the Red Wings remain about $20 million below the cap.

Free agency moves recap:

• Aug. 10: Jakub Vrana signs three-year contract with Red Wings
• Aug. 5: Center Chase Pearson stays with Red Wings
• July 31: Red Wings sign Tyler Bertuzzi to two-year contract extension
• July 30: Red Wings acquire Mitchell Stephens in trade with Tampa for 6th-round pick
• July 29: Red Wings bring back Luke Witkowski on two-year deal
• July 29: Red Wings bring back defenseman Dan Renouf on one-year deal
• July 29: Darren Helm leaving Red Wings, signs with Avalanche
• July 28: Red Wings sign center Pius Suter to two-year contract
• July 28: Red Wings sign Michigan native D Jordan Oesterle to two-year contract
• July 28: Red Wings sign D Ryan Murphy to one-year contract extension
• July 28: Report: Luke Glendening leaving Red Wings, signing with Dallas Stars

Pre-free agency moves recap:

• July 28: Red Wings sign goalie Calvin Pickard to one-year contract extension
• July 28: Red Wings sign center Sam Gagner to one-year contract extension
• July 27: Red Wings sign left wing Taro Hirose to contract extension
• July 27: Red Wings sign center Kyle Criscuolo to contract extension
• July 26: Gustav Lindstrom signs two-year deal
• July 25: Marc Staal signs for another season
• July 22: Alex Nedeljkovic signs 2-year contract with Red Wings after trade

Previously:

• Suter joins core; Detroit remains way under cap
• View: Detroit Red Wings 2021 NHL Entry Draft picks
• Kraken grab Cholowski
• Welcome, Nick Leddy
• Ken Holland strikes, Kucherov calls Larionov, and a quiz
• Tanguay joins coaching staff; Chelios to ESPN
• Gallant goes to Rangers; coaches quiz time
• Recalling the magical 2012-13 playoff run with two epic game 7s
• May 31, 2002 -- Red Wings score 7 goals vs. Avalanche in Game 7
• Wings will have 6th overall pick in 2021 NHL Draft
• Chris Osgood -- Hall of Famer?
• Jack Eichel -- could Yzerman add him?
• End-of-season notes: 2020-21 vs. 2019-20, looking ahead
• Veleno, Rasmussen showing promise down the middle
• Trading Anthony Mantha was more than Red Wings fans could ask for at deadline

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