Jakub Vrana isn’t sticking around in Nashville after the Predators claimed him off waivers from the Washington Capitals in March.
According to the Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco, there are no plans for Vrana to re-sign with the Predators ahead of free agency this summer. Vrana signed a one-year, $775k contract with the Capitals out of training camp and will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1.
Vrana recorded 11 points (7g, 4a) in 26 games during his second stint with the Capitals this past season. His last game for the Caps came against the St. Louis Blues on February 27, and at that point, it was his first game in nearly two months.
The Capitals placed Vrana on waivers, hoping to sneak him down to the AHL’s Hershey Bears and net increased cap flexibility ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. At the deadline, the Caps acquired winger Anthony Beauvillier from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a draft pick, filling Vrana’s open roster spot.
With the Predators, Vrana reunited with Nashville’s general manager, Barry Trotz. Trotz was Vrana’s head coach when the two won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. In 13 games with the Predators, Vrana recorded three points (2g, 1a) and was a minus-10.
“It’s been awesome so far,” Vrana said days after the waiver claim. “Everyone is so friendly, helping me to kind of settle in. Obviously, it’s going to take a couple of days to remember everyone’s name as usual, but everyone’s been so friendly. It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and play hard and show what I can do out there.”
Vrana, wearing no. 19 in Nashville, primarily skated on the team’s third line with Fedor Svechkov and Cole Smith. He averaged 11:23 of ice time per game with the Predators, more than the 9:50 per game he averaged with the Capitals.
The 29-year-old Czech has reportedly already received overseas interest from Linköping HC, the SHL club that gave him his professional start during the 2012-13 campaign.
