Washington, D.C. — Jakub Vrana is back in the Red Wings lineup.
Vrana will replace Filip Zadina in the Wings’ lineup Tuesday against Washington — the team that shipped Vrana to the Red Wings for Anthony Mantha at the April 2021 trade deadline.
This will be Vrana’s first game back in Washington since the trade — and his first game this season since playing the first two games of this regular season, then entering the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program.
Coach Derek Lalonde and his staff mulled the decision for several days.
“I don’t love pulling Zadina; he’s played well for us,” Lalonde said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “It kind of just came down to giving V (Vrana) an opportunity. We want to see where he’s at and what we have.
“Z (Zadina) is probably the odd man out. He’s not on either special team, (but) it’s not an easy decision.”
Zadina just returned to the lineup Feb. 9, after missing three months because of a lower-body injury. Zadina has one goal and two assists in six games since returning.
When Zadina returned, Dominik Kubalik was a healthy scratch for a game.
“Probably a similar situation, that was more of giving Z an opportunity and not about Kuby’s game,” Lalonde said. “And Z ran with it (the opportunity).
“Hopefully, we can get him (Zadina) back in soon.”
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Zadina was diplomatic in his reaction to the news.
“One of those things I can’t control,” Zadina said. “I can control what I do on the ice. It was their decision, not mine. It is what it is.
“These things I can’t control. I can only control on the ice and that’s what I was focused on when I was getting the chance to play. These (other) things, it’s part of hockey.”
Zadina’s locker is right next to Vrana’s in the visitors’ locker room at Capital One Arena. Zadina insisted he didn’t joke with Vrana about knocking him out of the lineup.
“No, he’s playing back home where he got traded from; it’s huge for him,” Zadina said. “I wish him the best, obviously. He’s my friend and I wish him the best, for sure.”
Lalonde was planning on using Vrana on a line with Joe Veleno and Robby Fabbri.
Familiar name
The Wings’ minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins Tuesday signed center Riley Sawchuk to a professional tryout for the remainder of the season and to a standard player’s contract for the 2023-24 season.
Sawchuk, 23, comes from Mount Royal (Alberta, Canada) University, where he had 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 27 games this season, leading the league in points and assists.
Last year, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, native totaled 15 goals and 23 assists in 20 games for Mount Royal and was named to the U SPORTS All-Canadian Second Team and All-Rookie Team.
Sawchuk also earned the University of Alberta Hockey Alumni Trophy, as the Canada West Rookie of the Year. Sawchuk spent his junior career in the Western Hockey League with the Tri-City Americans (2015-19) and the Edmonton Oil Kings (2019-20), where he was a teammate of Wings’ goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa during his final season.
Terry Sawchuk, the legendary Wings’ goalie, is Riley’s grandfather’s cousin. Riley’s grandfather is Albert Sawchuk, 82.
Ice chips
Lalonde said on Tuesday’s Wings’ defense, Robert Hagg will replace Jordan Oesterle to get a more physical presence against the big Capitals lineup.
“A little bit of the match-up,” said Lalonde of using Hagg. He’s a little more heavy, physical and it made sense to get him in.”
… As far as Mantha, the former Wing is having another frustrating season in Washington. Mantha went into Tuesday’s game with only nine goals and 24 points in 53 games, with a minus-seven plus-minus rating. Mantha hadn’t scored a goal in 14 games (December 31) and only one goal in his last 22 games. Mantha has been a healthy scratch in five games since January 8.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan