When he struggled to come back from shoulder surgery last year, it looked like the worst of his career was behind him. He missed almost three-quarters of the season. Who would have guessed that there would be even less of it this year? The anabasis in Detroit, which enrolled him in the assistance program at the beginning of the season and then let him know that he no longer counted on him, is over anyway.
Jakub Vrána was traded to St. Louis, where he is fighting for what may be his last chance. Detroit had to keep half of the cap burden, the consideration wasn’t high either. We have already written about all this. It’s better now. A welcome to a new club is always pleasant.
“After what he’s been through, maybe a fresh start will be a positive thing,” says Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. “He is a proven player capable of producing. Our job now is to provide him with the off-ice support necessary to succeed on the ice.”
Vrana has a Stanley Cup winner’s ring at home, having succeeded in 2018 with Washington. In the following years, however, he regularly failed in matches where something was at stake. In the 2019 and 2020 playoffs, a total of fifteen games, he did not score a single point. He made a decent mark in Detroit. He collected 30 points (21+9) in 37 games of the regular season. This year, he added 2 points (1+1) in five duels.
St. Louis also acquired Kasperi Kapanen from Pittsburgh with him. Another player who welcomes a new chance. “Vrana is a young player and we are now putting the ball back in his side in the form of a fresh start. He has to deal with it just like Kappy. We hope they can do it,” added Armstrong for both reinforcements.
The Blues are more or less out of the running for the playoffs. The team is undergoing a rebuild. A few days ago, they let Vladimir Tarasenko go to New York. A chance to make a name for yourself in St. Louis definitely will.
“We need a player who can start in the first or second attack and offer an offensive. He skates well, he can handle certain things, he played on a winning team. So yes, we expect him to restore the status he had at the draft and in the early stages of his career,” Armstrong believes in Vrán.
The general manager expects the two signings to line up alongside Brandon Saad, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Bučnevich and Brayden Schenn. This seven should share the places in the top six, i.e. the first two formations.
Create an account with Tipsport and get an entry bonus of up to CZK 50,000! In addition, you will receive free CZK 300 on your first bets!
Share on Facebook
Share on Google+
Share on Twitter
