Red Wings' Thomas Vanek: Will be actively shopped at trade deadline

Vanek is "certain to be dealt as a rental" by next Wednesday's trade deadline, MLive.com reports.

Analysis:

With GM Ken Holland in an unfamiliar position of knowing that the Wings are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in 26 seasons, Vanek is one of the leading candidates to move on from Detroit, and he qualifies as a rental player since he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Vanek went from being bought out by the Wild in the offseason to establishing himself as the most productive scoring option on the Wings -- he has 15 goals and 38 points in 47 games. It'll be interesting to see who would come to the Motor City in a Vanek deal; based on how this season has played out, a power-play defenseman should rank near the top of the team's wish list.