The Detroit Red Wings are looking to improve on their 2024-25 season.
They finished the regular season with a 39-35-8 record and 86 points. They finished the season five points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference. Adding more goal-scoring is a priority, and that could come in the form of offering Jakub Vrana a PTO.
Vrana spent the 2024-25 season with the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators. The 6-foot, 197 lbs forward scored 14 points in 39 games. Nine of those points were goals. The 29-year-old was initially drafted by the Capitals 13th overall in 2014. He has also played for the St. Louis Blues in his NHL career.
The 406-game NHL veteran could continue his playing career in North America, despite interest from teams overseas.
Jakub Vrana Wants to Play in the NHL
Vrana’s first choice for continuing his playing career is the NHL. He has received at least one offer from a European team. According to Detroit Hockey Now, Sparta Prague of the Czech Extraliga desires to bring him onto their team.
“We talked to him, we approached him,” Sparta’s sporting director Tomas Divisek said. “I think he will wait until the last possible moment.”
“He wants to try to return to America, that’s clear. He is waiting. He believes he can still make it there.”
That isn’t the only team overseas that’s been calling.
According to Hockeynews.se, Linkoping HC of the SHL has interest in having Vrana join their ranks. He played there from 2011 to 2015, before crossing the pond to North America.
“There is a contact. We have had a good relationship over the years,” LHC’s sporting director Peter Jakobsson said to Hockeynews.se. “We know what quality he possesses, but right now it is an uncertain situation.”
Vrana wants to return to the NHL, despite a strong pull to take his talents elsewhere.
Red Wings Open to Adding More Forwards
Steve Yzerman is still mulling over roster decisions during the summer. A trade for a defender is undoubtedly on the table; however, in his media availability after free agency opened, he discussed other potential options.
“I don’t want to rule out anybody coming in, having a really strong preseason and forcing us to take a longer look to see how they start at the regular season,” Yzerman told reporters. He continued, “We’ve got 12 players signed right now. Do we sign another one to have that 13th forward?”
“Or do we leave that spot open and see if something comes up here over the summer? Or leave it open and let all those guys earn that spot?”
Signing a PTO is not out of the question for Vrana. The 29-year-old signed a PTO with the Capitals in August last year. He spent parts of three seasons with the Red Wings organization. It’s reasonable to suggest that he would be open to returning for a year, especially considering that he wants to return to the NHL before exploring other avenues.
Vrana is Still a Goal-Scorer
Despite struggling to find regular playing time over the second half of his NHL career, Vrana has been a consistent goal-scorer. Of his 223 career points, 119 are goals. If given the opportunity, he may find his 20+ goal-scoring touch once again.
While Yzerman plugs away at finding another center, defender, or all of the above, Red Wings fans will keep their eyes peeled for what Vrana does next.
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