Vrana Does Enough To Lock Down Final Caps Roster Spot

Former Detroit Red Wings player Jakub Vrana has earned another chance in the city where he launched his NHL career in 2016-17.

The Capitals signed him to a one-year, one-way deal paying him $775,000 for season. He was on a three-year contract paying him an average of $5.250 million per season when the Red Wings traded him to St. Louis March 3, 2023.

Vrana, 28, was a member of the Capitals team that won the 2018 Stanley Cup championship. He boasted two game-winning goals during the team’s title run. Vrana also netted the opening goal in the clinching Game 5 against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Final.

Washington Hockey Now reported that fans were excited to have Vrana back with the organization. Some of his former teammates are still with the team.

“He’s one of the best skaters out there and he’s got a ton of skill,” said Tom Wilson, who was with the Capitals when Vrana was with the team the first time. “He’s had some ups and downs in his career, like a lot of us. But he seems like he’s in a good spot right now. I want him to do well. I’m excited to have him around. It’s been fun to just hang out with him. Get him back in a Caps uniform,  Caps T-shirt, and hang out at the rink and stuff.”

Vrana beat out Andrew Cristall and Ivan Miroshnichenko to earn the last roster spot at forward.

Vrana’s career in Detroit started out with such promise. However, GM Steve Yzerman was willing to pay half of his salary to move when he was traded.  St. Louis gave up a seventh-round pick and a minor leaguer. For the Red Wings, this was dumping a player no longer in their plans.  He scored 10 goals in 20 games for St. Louis in his first season with the team, but by the second season he was out of favor. Vrana spent more time in the AHL than NHL. St. Louis didn’t re-sign him.

The Red Wings acquired Vrana, Richard Panik, along with the Capitals’ first and second round picks, on April 12, 2021, in a deal for Anthony Mantha.  The Red Wings used the Caps’ first rounder to move up and draft goalie Sebastian Cossa. The second rounder turned into Dmitry Buchelnikov