Red Wings’ Jakub Vrana clears waivers after being placed on them to open roster spot

The Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana cleared waivers Wednesday after he was placed on them Tuesday in a surprising move to open a roster spot. Here’s what you need to know:

Vrana’s contract runs through the 2023-24 season and carries a $5.25 million average annual value.
He came out of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program on Dec. 9.
The 26-year-old played three games last week with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate, on a conditioning loan to get back up to playing speed.

Backstory

Vrana entered the player assistance program in October after playing two games at the start of the season. He recorded one goal and one assist.

The NHL and NHLPA started the player assistance program in 1996. The jointly funded program assists players and their families with mental health, substance abuse and other matters.

Vrana was paid while he received treatment through the joint program, and he has not publicly said why he entered the program. After he exited the player assistance program, he was on Detroit’s 23-man roster, even during his Griffins conditioning stint. On Monday, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said Vrana’s conditioning stint was extended for three more games this week.

Vrana is in his seventh NHL season after the Washington Capitals selected him with the No. 13 pick in the 2014 draft. He won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in the 2017-18 season. Vrana arrived to the Red Wings via trade on April 12, 2021, which sent Anthony Mantha to the Capitals.

Why did Detroit waive Vrana?

The Red Wings needed to waive someone with Robby Fabbri expected back from injury on Wednesday. We don’t have a clear answer to why they chose Vrana — over other options such as backup goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg, or pending unrestricted free agent Adam Erne, who is expected to come out of the lineup for Fabbri — but the obvious conclusion is that the Red Wings are prepared to potentially lose Vrana.

Vrana’s cap hit, which is $5.25 million for this season and next, will be prohibitive to some teams who are tight against the cap. But for other teams, it won’t be, and there’s a very real chance that one of them makes a claim for a player who has proven one of the most talented pure scorers in the league.

There are external factors in play, with teams having not seen Vrana in NHL action since he went into the player assistance program, but his scoring touch is a rare asset, so the next 24 hours will be fascinating. — Bultman

What does this mean for his future?

It will be a bit easier to answer this in 24 hours because for now, the immediate question is whether he will be claimed. If he’s not, he can remain in Grand Rapids beyond the maximum 14-day limit.

Detroit had already extended the stint beyond the initial plan of three games, perhaps in part because Vrana was a minus-5 with 0 points in those games. That shouldn’t necessarily be a surprise, given how long he was away, and it’s one reason more extra time to ramp up would make sense. If things went well from there, he could then return to the Red Wings.

Given Detroit’s willingness to expose him, though, it also would not be shocking to see a trade if Vrana clears waivers. In that event, Detroit would have the ability to retain salary (or take money back from an acquiring team). That’s far from a guarantee, of course. But Vrana’s future certainly is less clear today than it was yesterday. — Bultman

What would losing Vrana mean for Detroit?

Vrana has been dynamic when he’s been in Detroit’s lineup for the last three seasons. He missed significant time last season after shoulder surgery, but in 39 total games with the club, he has 22 goals and 32 points. That’s first-line-level production, despite playing just 15 minutes per night.

Losing the 26-year-old would be subtracting one of the team’s few players with game-breaking offensive ability. His contract only has one more year on it, so the Red Wings were going to need to reach a decision on whether he was part of their future relatively soon regardless, but parting with him now (especially if lost for nothing on waivers) would be significant. It would also put an added spotlight on the future of forward Tyler Bertuzzi, a winger in the same age range (soon to be 28) who is able to become a free agent this summer.

Losing Vrana could free up some cap space, but potentially losing both him and Bertuzzi would put significant strain on Detroit’s offensive firepower. — Bultman