Jakub Vrana will barely register as a footnote in St. Louis Blues history, as his time in Gateway City was far from successful. Joining the Blues in March 2023, Vrana played in just 41 games, scoring 12 goals and 20 points—falling short of his earlier achievements with the Washington Capitals.
Now, he’s heading back to Washington, having been offered a professional tryout (PTO) by his former team. Given his underwhelming performance with the Blues this past season, where he managed just six points and two goals in 21 games, it’s likely the Blues had little hesitation in moving on from him.
Washington was where Vrana truly shined, playing in 284 games for the Capitals and racking up 157 points and 76 goals before moving on to Detroit and eventually St. Louis.
Can the former St. Louis Blues forward rejuvenate his career in D.C.?
It won’t be easy for Jakub Vrana to revive what was once a solid career, especially with the flurry of moves the Capitals made this offseason. Washington is clearly focused on building a winning team around aging star Alex Ovechkin, making a final push for a Stanley Cup while he’s still playing.
Given the circumstances, Vrana might find himself serving as organizational depth, similar to the role he had with the Blues last season, where he tallied 36 points and 16 goals in 42 games. He also spent part of the 2022-23 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins before being traded to St. Louis, where he notched 11 points and six goals in 17 games.
Despite the challenges, Vrana has already shown his potential during his previous stint with the Capitals, so there’s a chance he could rediscover his form. If he does, it might lead to a one-year deal with the team, and he could either remain with the main roster or spend most of the next season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
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