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Thomas Vanek will not play for Red Wings today

Montreal Canadiens v Detroit Red Wings

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 16: Thomas Vanek #62 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Montreal Canadiens at Joe Louis Arena on January 16, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Pretty much every game at this point is a must-have for the Detroit Red Wings. They are going to get a massive test on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Central Division leading Minnesota Wild.

That test is going to be a little bit more difficult with the news from general manager Ken Holland that forward Thomas Vanek will not be in the lineup today due to an ankle injury.

He played 14 minutes in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring the team’s only goal.

When healthy this season Vanek has been one of the few bright spots for a Red Wings team that enters the day in last place in the Eastern Conference. After signing a bargain one-year, $2.6 million contract in free agency, Vanek has scored 14 goals and added 22 assists in 43 games. His .837 point per game average is not only the best on the team this season, it is the best individual number he has recorded since the 2013-14 season.

With the Red Wings quickly falling out of playoff contention and Vanek being an unrestricted free agent after this season his name has been one that has surfaced in trade speculation with the trade deadline just a couple of weeks away.

NHL on NBC: Red Wings will try to slow down Wild