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Bloom Coming Off Rose of Former Red Wings Player

Detroit prospect a world champion

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Jakub Vrana, Detroit Red Wings
Washington made former Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana a healthy scratch for 10 straight games.

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana does seem to have a knack for wearing out his welcome. He’s on the outs again with yet another NHL club.

The Washington Capitals were opting to re-insert winger Vrana in their lineup for Monday’s 3-1 loss at the Dallas Stars. It was Vrana’s first game action since Nov. 21. The Czech forward was a healthy scratch for 10 successive games. He was maintaining his spot for Tuesday’s 3-2 loss at Chicago, collecting an assist.

On the surface, it seems odd for a couple of reason. For starters, Vrana’s numbers – 4-4-8 and plus-5 in 18 games – don’t look bad on paper. Secondly, the Capitals were missing captain Alex Ovechkin (broken leg) for all 10 of the games in which Vrana was a scratch. You’d think his goal-scoring ability and offensive touch would’ve made him a vital add during Ovi’s absence.

However, advanced stats are displaying how dismal the Caps perform 5-on-5 when Vrana is on the ice. They are garnering only 45.6% of the shot attempts. Vrana’s expected goals number is 1.9. Both of those stats rate at or near the bottom among Washington forwards who’ve played at least 10 games this season.

This figures to be Vrana’s last chance to show Capitals coach Spencer Carbery he deserves a regular place in the lineup. There was a lot of hype built into Vrana’s second go-round with the Caps. He won a Stanley Cup there in 2017-18. Yet, much like his first tenure in Washington, as well as his stops in Detroit and St. Louis, it appears to be coming to an end with little fanfare.

Red Wings Pick A World Champion

When the USA was beating Sweden 7-4 in the gold-medal game at the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta, it was making a world champion out of Red Wings draftee Austin Baker (203rd overall, 2024 NHL entry draft).

The left-winger would finish the tournament with three assists in five games. He’s heading to play for Michigan State next season.

Pulkkinen On The Move

The holiday season is a busy time for player movement in the European leagues and a former Red Wings forward is heading to a new home. A Finnish left-winger who was skating with Detroit and the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins from 2012-16, Teemu Pulkkinen is joining Poprad of the Slovak Premier League.

They will be his 14th pro club and seventh in the past six seasons. Schwenninger Wild Wings of the German DEL were terminating their contract with Pulkkinen. He was accounting for 4-7-11 totals in 22 games with the German club.

Kubalik Staying Put

Sunday came and went and Dominik Kubalik didn’t go. Kubalik had an out in his European contract that would’ve allowed him to leave if he was receiving an offer from an NHL club by Dec. 15.

However, there were no takers for the former Red Wings forward. Kubalik will be staying in Switzerland and finishing the season with Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League.

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