Jakub Vrana became close friends with Vitek Vanecek as both Czech prospects developed in the Washington Capitals’ organization, spending time together in DC and Hershey.
Tuesday, ahead of the Capitals’ matchup against the San Jose Sharks, Vrana and Vanecek caught up at center ice during warmups.
“[J]ust a couple old friends catching up,” the Capitals wrote on X.
Vanecek is playing his first season in San Jose after being traded by the New Jersey Devils, while Vrana returned to the Capitals after signing a professional try out agreement and making the team out of Training Camp.
“It was nice,” Vrana said to RMNB. “[The Sharks] came here like two days before the game, so he stopped by. We had a good chat. It’s nice to see him on the ice. He’s been dealing with some injuries. It’s nice to see him back.”
So far this season, Vanecek is 3-6-1 with a 3.89 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage for a young and rebuilding Sharks team with the eighth fewest points in the league. Vrana has 7 points (4g, 3a) in 16 games this season, playing predominantly on Washington’s third line. Vrana’s had two different point streaks during the season (3 games and 2 games), but last played on November 21 against the Colorado Avalanche.
“We saw each other at the wedding in summer,” Vrana said. “He lives really close to me. We practice together, so we see each other often during the summer.”
