Photo: Gustaf Lundberg
With the 13th overall pick in the Draft, the Washington Capitals have selected 18-year-old Czech winger Jakub Vrana out of Linkoping of the SHL. The pick was surprising considering that Vrana was ranked 23rd overall in Craig Button’s ranking.
Vrana’s stock slightly fell throughout the year. His Linkoping made it to the semifinals of the SHL playoffs. Vrana had two goals and one assist in 24 regular season games, spending a significant portion of the season with Linkoping’s junior squad.
The native of Prague, Vrana is an offensive-minded forward that plays a skilled game. Scouts praise Vrana’s speed and goal-scoring ability, while admitting he can be a bit selfish at times, and his play away from the puck could use some work.
Vrana, who stands at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds also played for Team Czech Republic in the U18 World Championships and the World Junior Championships this past season, contributing eight goals and ten points in seven games at U18 level as well as one goal and one assist in five games with the U20 team.
Barring a trade, the Caps are not expected to pick until 44th selection.
