Detroit — In a way, Richard Panik has been “the other guy” in the Red Wings’ big trade this week.
Much of the attention since the Wings dealt Anthony Mantha to Washington has been on Jakub Vrana, the main centerpiece the Capitals sent back to Detroit.
But Panik, 30, is hardly a throw-in. He has been in the NHL since 2012-13, when he debuted with Tampa Bay after he was a 2009 second-round pick by the Lightning.
Panik has scored as much as 22 goals in a season (2016-17 with Chicago) and has been a versatile NHL forward wherever he’s played.