Red Wings trade Jakub Vrana to Blues for seventh-round pick
Vrana #Vrana
Jakub Vrana arrived in Detroit with much promise nearly two years ago but ended up appearing in only 42 games with the Red Wings.
His tumultuous season will end in St. Louis.
The Red Wings traded Vrana Friday to the Blues for a seventh-round pick in 2025 and center Dylan McLaughlin, who was loaned to AHL Springfield.
Vrana has one year remaining on his contract at $5.25 million and the Red Wings needed to retain 50 percent of his salary to move him.
He appeared in only three games for the Red Wings (no points) after being recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Feb. 14 and was a healthy scratch in six others.
Vrana, 27, had a goal and an assist in two games with Detroit before entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Oct. 18. He rejoined the Red Wings on Dec. 16 and shortly after was assigned to Grand Rapids for conditioning. While there, he was waived on Jan. 3. He cleared and remained with the Griffins.
The Red Wings acquired Vrana from the Washington Capitals on April 12, 2021, along with a first-round pick, in exchange for Anthony Mantha.
Vrana made an immediate impact with his tremendous shot and offensive ability with eight goals and 11 points in 11 games to finish the season.
His decision to not undergo shoulder surgery in the offseason didn’t sit well with the club, however. After arriving late for training camp the following season, he lasted only 10 minutes on the ice during his first practice before being shut down due to a shoulder injury, It required surgery, idling him until March 8, 2022.
He still produced when he returned, with 13 goals and 19 points in 26 games.
In 42 games overall with the Red Wings, Vrana collected 22 goals and 10 assists.
General manager Steve Yzerman has traded three players (Filip Hronek, Tyler Bertuzzi, Vrana) for a total of five picks since Wednesday. The Red Wings now have 27 selections over the next three drafts.
The trading deadline is 3 p.m. today.
More: Red Wings not prepared to ‘pack it in’ this year
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