Vrana reunites with Capitals on pro tryout contract
The Washington Capitals reunited with Jakub Vrana on Thursday, inviting the unrestricted free-agent winger to training camp on a professional tryout agreement.
Vrana spent the first five seasons of his career in D.C. after being taken 13th overall by the Capitals at the 2014 NHL Draft. He won a Stanley Cup championship with the franchise in 2018 and amassed 157 points in 284 outings as a member of the club.
Washington traded Vrana, winger Richard Panik, a first-round pick, and a second-round selection to the Detroit Red Wings at the 2021 deadline in exchange for forward Anthony Mantha.
Vrana made a strong impression with Detroit to close out the 2020-21 campaign, racking up eight goals - including four in one night - and 11 points in 11 outings. The Red Wings then signed him to a three-year pact with a cap hit of $5.25 million.
However, the Czechia native's 2021-22 season was derailed by a shoulder injury. He wasn't able to play until March and only got into 26 games, but he totaled 13 goals and 19 points in his abbreviated campaign.
Shortly after the start of the 2022-23 season, Vrana was placed in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He eventually returned to the lineup in February. The Red Wings traded Vrana (while retaining 50% of his salary) to the St. Louis Blues one month later for forward Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
The 28-year-old suited up in 21 games for the Blues this past season and mustered just two goals and six points. He was placed on waivers in December and spent the bulk of the year with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds, scoring 16 tallies and 20 assists in 42 contests.
Vrana has registered 110 goals and 209 points in 367 career NHL games.