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Panthers acquire Vanek for McIlrath, pick

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With Detroit in position to miss the playoffs for the first time since 1991, the Red Wings were sellers at the deadline and are entering full rebuilding mode.

Florida has added the goalscoring winger it wanted for a playoff push.

Thomas Vanek, who leads the Red Wings with 15 goals this season, has been acquired in exchange for defenseman Dylan McIlrath and a third-round pick, per TSN.

Vanek, 33, is on a one-year, $2.6 million deal. Detroit’s retaining 50 percent of his salary in this trade, so it’s an affordable pickup for the Panthers.

The Austrian winger should fit nicely into an offensively gifted group that includes Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Jaromir Jagr, Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith and Jussi Jokinen. Vanek should also help out on the power play, where he has five markers this season.

“Thomas is a proven scorer in this league who will add some offensive savvy and experience to our young group of forwards,” Panthers GM Dale Tallon said in a release. “We believe strongly in our group and we’re confident that he will help our power play and supplement our core effectively.”

As for the other side of things...

The Red Wings, who will see their 25-year playoff streak snapped, began selling off assets yesterday by flipping Brendan Smith to the Rangers, and Steve Ott to the Habs.

Early analysis has panned GM Ken Holland for his sub-par return for Vanek who -- while somewhat flawed -- has enjoyed a bounce-back season in Detroit, and has a history for finding the back of the net.