A former offensive weapon is being brought down a notch.
On Monday, Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic reported that the St. Louis Blues are placing forward Jakub Vrana on waivers.
The Russian-born winger has struggled in recent years, with it now being over three seasons since his dominant 2019-20 campaign with the Washington Capitals, where he scored 52 points in 69 games.
Vrana was traded to the Detroit Red Wings the following season at the deadline for Anthony Mantha, and his career has not been the same. While he has shown glimpses of his former self, an injury-riddled 2021-22 campaign, followed up by Vrana entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program just weeks into last season, has sent the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion into a downward trajectory.
Things were looking up for Vrana after being moved to the Blues last March, totaling 14 points in 20 games. However, it has not looked like a good fit in St. Louis this time around. Through 19 games in 2023-24, Vrana has just two goals and six assists, having not registered a point since Nov. 14.
Vrana is in the last year of a three-year contract worth an AAV of $5.25 million, which he signed back in August 2021 while with the Wings.
If he clears tomorrow, Vrana will have the option to join the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. In returning from the player assistance program last December, Vrana spent time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings’ top farm team, putting up 11 points in 17 games before returning to Detroit in February.
The Blues (13-13-1) are right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. They are sixth in the Central Division with 27 points, six behind the Dallas Stars for third. They trail the Arizona Coyotes for the last Wild Card spot by one point.
Coincidentally, St. Louis is set to host the Red Wings on Tuesday night.
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