Jan 4: The Red Wings’ gamble has paid off, as Vrana cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. This would actually increase Vrana’s trade value if Detroit is looking to make a move, given he can now be stashed in the minors while he gets back up to speed by any acquiring team. Fabbri has been officially activated from injured reserve to take his place.
Jan 3: The Detroit Red Wings were expected to place a player on waivers today to make room for Robby Fabbri’s return, but no one expected it to be Jakub Vrana. Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets reports that the forward, who only recently moved to the next phase of the Player Assistance Program, has been placed on waivers today.
Vrana, 26, is in the second season of a three-year, $15.75MM contract he signed with the Red Wings in 2021 after being acquired from the Washington Capitals. The 13th overall pick from 2014, he had shown an ability to score at a high level and appeared to be a core piece for the team moving forward. Since arriving in Detroit, though, Vrana has been in and out of the lineup, and has just 39 games played as a Red Wing. This season he has appeared at the NHL level just twice, recording two points.
This could be nothing more than the Red Wings, believing his contract will get him through waivers, allowing Vrana to get his game back in order at the minor league level. But even with the $5.25MM cap hit, there is at least some risk of losing him entirely. Several rebuilding clubs have the cap space necessary to fit him in, and given his relative youth and strong history in the league, it may be worth the chance.
Through 323 NHL games, Vrana has scored 98 goals and 189 points, a 25-goal, 48-point pace when expanded to a full 82-game schedule. While other teams may not have a full understanding of his current situation, it would be hard to blame them for taking a swing with a waiver claim. His contract, while expensive, does expire after next season and leave him an unrestricted free agent, meaning for a club like the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, or Arizona Coyotes, there would be the possibility of a short-term flip for more assets a year from now.
That would of course mean committing to a significant salary, though. Vrana is owed $5.75MM next season in the slightly back-loaded deal.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, have some big contract negotiations upcoming, so this is perhaps an attempt to get out from under Vrana’s deal. Dylan Larkin, Pius Suter, and Tyler Bertuzzi are all unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, with the former likely demanding a huge raise over his current $6.1MM cap hit. If Steve Yzerman no longer believes in Vrana as a core piece, he could be looking for a little financial freedom by offering him up to the rest of the league.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
???
I bet Stevie’s pal, Pat Verbeek claims him!!
Wow! Maybe a caps reunion? Don’t know if it ever came out why he was out, but maybe being back where he started would be something he’d want? Caps have a lot of lefties though. Was sad to see him go. Glad he’s back on the ice at least.
If he clears, I could see a reunion if the wings retain some salary. I’m not sure of the current caps current salary cap situation with backstrom returning from LTIR soon and Carlson up in the air
@2012orioles:
I’d love to see him as a Capital again, but I highly doubt it’ll happen. Word is he and Laviolette did NOT get along. Laviolette healthy scratched Jake a few times, before the trade. A reunion is probably not in the cards.
Wow, I predicted 10 games before he was out with some issue, apparently 3 AHL games was all. Moving on from someone who doesn’t have much drive, at least all they gave up was Mantha who is just as frustrating.
Its a rumors website here, what is the REAL problem with the kid, alcool, drugs? For sure its not an hockey problem, he’s a really good hockey player, Steve waving it for nothing? Dont buy it
It’s a website that nonetheless is liable to be sued for putting defamatory rumors out there, without some solid proof backing it up. There are plenty of fan forums out there where you can talk conspiracy theories to your heart’s content.
“Dont put your conspiracy theories here” said a jab junkie and “govern me harder daddy” hardcore enthusiast @nhatrang
Ey great champion, why you’ve answered me if you have no answer?
I fear he is unable to recover from what we his personal issue is. Very sad to hear.
He may just need more time, and Stevie is out of roster space and does not wanna send the kids down. Ducks are first on the waiver claim list and have roster and cap space.
Chicago is first not Anaheim.
Doubtful any team will claim him with a $5.75 AAV cap hit, but clearly looks like Yzerman has lost his patience with someone he does not seem reliable and/or as I’ve stated before he does not want to deal with a Bob Probert 2.0 problem. Vrana appears to have some major issues going on and I feel for this guy so maybe this also serves as a wake up call for him to get serious about getting himself better. Overall i wish him a full recovery sooner rather than later
$5.25M AAV thru next season
Doesn’t The Blackhawks get first grabs at him…. Money is a turn off…
Yes