Martin Frk

Martin Frk, the Red Wings' top pick in 2012, leads the Griffins with 20 goals.

(AP file photo)

Spending several days in some tropical locale apparently is not conducive to success when hitting the ice again.

This is the first season of the NHL's "bye weeks" - a mid- to late-season break players received in exchange for approving the new All-Star Game three-on-three format, and teams have not fared well in their first game back, going 7-15-4.

Rust following six days with no games, the first five with no practices, clearly is an issue.

That's the challenge the Detroit Red Wings face Tuesday in Vancouver during the start of a three-game Western Canada trip.

The Red Wings (24-26-10), last in the Eastern Conference, return to practice Monday following their bye week.

Here are five things to watch this week:

More trades looming

The Red Wings started the sell-off Friday by moving seldom-used forward Tomas Jurco to the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick. More deals are expected by Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.

The club is looking to acquire assets (picks, prospects). Thomas Vanek will fetch the best return, which, based on some of the moves made, might be as high as a first-round selection, or possibly multiple picks including at least one second-rounder.

If the Red Wings don't sign Brendan Smith to an extension, he'll likely be dealt. The New York Rangers are among teams that have shown interest. Smith might return a second- or third-round choice and/or prospect.

Steve Ott could be dealt, perhaps for a mid-to-late round selection.

The team also is listening to offers for center Riley Sheahan, who has one year remaining on his contract.

More recalls from Grand Rapids?

The Red Wings recalled Drew Miller Sunday from Grand Rapids, giving them 13 healthy forwards (excluding Gustav Nyquist, whose suspension ends Saturday) and seven defensemen.

They might need to recall more players if, as expected, they do more dealing.

Possibilities up front include Martin Frk (39 points, including team-leading 20 goals), Tomas Nosek (14 goals, 38 points) and Red Wings' 2015 top pick Evgeny Svechnikov (15 goals, 32 points), who is riding a 12-game points streak.

The Red Wings got a look at Tyler Bertuzzi (nine goals, 26 points in 32 games for the Griffins) earlier this season for seven games.

On defense, Robbie Russo (six goals, 29 points, team-leading plus-14) would seem to be the next in line to get a look.

The 23-man roster limit is lifted after the trade deadline, but the salary cap remains in effect.

Western Canada trip

The Red Wings visit Vancouver Tuesday (10 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), three days after the Canucks, missing five players due to the mumps, lost 4-1 to San Jose. The Red Wings are 7-1-2 in their past 10 against the Canucks (26-29-6), who are out of playoff contention.

Detroit plays at Calgary on Friday (9 p.m., FSD) against a Flames club battling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference (34-24-4). The Red Wings are 7-3-1 in their past 11 at the Saddledome.

The three-game Western Canada swing ends Saturday in Edmonton (10 p.m., FSD), the Red Wings' first appearance in the new Rogers Place. The much-improved Oilers (33-22-8), led by the NHL's scoring leader Connor McDavid (71 points), have won two of their past three vs. Detroit, their lone regulation wins against the Red Wings in the teams' previous 19 meetings (Detroit is 16-2-1).

Several forwards slumping

Sheahan, seeking his first goal of the season (eight assists in 58 games) isn't the only slumping forward.

Justin Abdelkader has gone 22 games without a goal (five assists during that stretch). Dylan Larkin hasn't scored in 13 games (one assist) and has just one goal and three assists in 21 games. Darren Helm has gone nine games without a goal (one assist)

The three played on the same line in recent games.

Nyquist has no goals and five assists in 11 games.

Howard's status?

Jimmy Howard has experienced multiple setbacks in his comeback attempt following a sprained right MCL on Dec. 20.

Howard has been practicing and planned on playing with the Griffins over the weekend, but his inability to make certain movements in the butterfly position scrapped that plan. He will accompany the team to Western Canada and practice. When he's ready to play, he'll go to Grand Rapids for another conditioning stint.

In the meantime, Petr Mrazek will continue getting most of the starts while Jared Coreau, who went 1-1 over the weekend with Grand Rapids, serves as the back-up.