Washington Capitals acquire Anthony Mantha in blockbuster trade with Detroit Red Wings

The Washington Capitals and Detroit Red Wings have made the biggest trade of the day.

Washington has acquired forward Anthony Mantha from the rebuilding Red Wings in exchange for forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik, a 2021 1st round pick and a 2022 second round pick.

Mantha, 26, was drafted 20th overall by the Red Wings in the 2013 draft and has appeared in 302 games with the club since. Manta’s scored 95 goals and 194 points over his career, and is having a bit of a down year offensively scoring just 21 points in 42 games this season. He’s in the first year of a four year deal worth $5.7-million.

He provides even-strength offence at an 12 percent rate better than league average and even-strength defence at a two percent rate better than league average.

Vrana, 25, was taken by the Capitals 13th overall in the 2014 draft and has appeared in 284 games since scoring 157 points. This year, he’s appeared in 39 games scoring 11 goals and 25 points. He’s a RFA at the end of the year and carries a cap hit of $3.35-million. He provides even strength offence at a nine percent rate better than league average and defence at a three percent rate worse than league average, according to hockeyviz.com

Panik, 30, has appeared in 36 games with Washington this year scoring three goals and nine points. He has two years left on a four-year contract with a cap hit of $2.75-million. Panik, according to hockeyviz.com, provides offence at a league average rate and defence at a three percent rate better than league average.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.