Jakub Vrana was part of the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Capitals team. After bouncing around with the Detroit Red Wings, St Louis Blues, NHL Player Assistance Program, and AHL affiliate teams, he’s back in Washington on a preliminary tryout agreement. Essentially, he has a short Training Camp with the Caps to impress the team. If he succeeds, he’ll earn a sweater on Opening Night just a few weeks away on October 12.
The media caught up with Vrána after the first day of Caps Training Camp. Notably, Vrana mentioned how he’s eager to prove he deserves a spot on the team. “Washington is always gonna be my heart,” he says, “I always wanted to play here. This chance means a lot to me.”
He also dampened concerns regarding his time in the NHL Players Assistance program, “I had to deal with some things off the ice… but right now everything is fine…I’m here to prove I can play.”
Of course, he was glad to see some familiar faces and share a laugh with some familiar faces, including Captain Alex Ovechkin.
If Vrána impresses during training camp, he could find a spot on the roster. His main competition by position will be Hershey Bears players coming off a Calder Cup win, including Ethen Frank, Alex Limoges, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Pierrick Dubé. Varna’s potential spot will also depend on some other factors, including whether players like Connor McMichael fit better at center or wing. With Vrana and numerous off-season acquisitions, the Capitals’ coaching staff will have some tough roster decisions to make.
