Jakub Vrana

Jakub Vrana appears set to play against Capitals for first time since being traded to Detroit Red Wings

Jakub Vrana was traded by the Washington Capitals to the Detroit Red Wings on April 12 of 2021. He has played parts of three seasons with the Red Wings and has yet to face his former squad a single time due to a variety of reasons including scheduling, injuries, and a stint in the NHL’s player assistance program.

That all seems like it will change on Tuesday when Detroit comes to DC to play the Caps. Helene St. James reports that Wings coach Derek Lalonde is looking to get Vrana in the lineup for the game.

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Jakub Vrana recalled by the Detroit Red Wings after 17-game stint in the AHL

Jakub Vrana has had a pretty insane, up-and-down start to 2023 after spending the first two months of the 2022-23 season in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

The 26-year-old former 2014 first-round draft pick kicked off January by being placed on waivers by the Detroit Red Wings. He ultimately went unclaimed but then only a few days later was made a healthy scratch for multiple games in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Things have turned around for him of late though. Vrana has recorded 10 points (6g, 4a) in his last nine AHL games. That performance has led to the Detroit Red Wings recalling him back to the NHL level.

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Jakub Vrana goes unclaimed on waivers

Jakub Vrana pass through waivers and went unclaimed by the other 31 teams in the NHL on Wednesday after the Detroit Red Wings shockingly put him on the list the day before.

At this point, it appears Vrana will remain with the Red Wings’ AHL farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He will continue longterm what initially began as a conditioning stint.

The news was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

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Jakub Vrana on returning from the player assistance program: ‘I’m so happy to be back’

Jakub Vrana’s time with the Detroit Red Wings has been tumultuous since being traded to them by the Washington Capitals in April of 2021. The 26-year-old winger has faced injury issues since the deal and most recently in October, he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for unknown personal reasons.

Vrana’s life seems to be on the upswing though. The Czech forward was reinstated to the Detroit Red Wings by the program on Friday and was a full participant in team’s Sunday practice, shedding his non-contact jersey.

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