Jakub Vrana will get perhaps a last chance of sticking in the NHL.
The former St. Louis Blues forward agreed to a professional tryout with the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the team that drafted the 28-year-old with the 13th pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and where some of his best seasons in the NHL occurred.
Vrana, who was traded by the Capitals to the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, was acquired by the Blues March 3, 2023 for forward Dylan McLaughlin and a seventh-round pick in 2025.
Forward Jakub Vrana will join the Washington Capitals’ 2024 Training Camp on a professional tryout agreement.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) August 15, 2024
After scoring 24 goals in 2018-19 and 25 in 2019-20 for the Capitals and winning a Stanley Cup in 2018, the Blues were hoping to take a flier on Vrana at a 50 percent salary reduction, which the Red Wings absorbed following off ice issues. But after scoring 10 goals (14 points) in 20 games with the Blues in 20 games to close out the 2022-23 season, Vrana quickly fell out of favor with the Blues last season, playing in 21 games with two goals, six assists and a minus-7. He was assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League and had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 42 games.
But it was evident the Blues would not retain Vrana, who became an unrestricted free agent July 1.
With Washington, it could perhaps revive some of Vrana’s early career success playing with some players that are still there he was, including Alex Ovechkin and former Blue T.J. Oshie and thus net Vrana one final chance at an NHL contract.
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