MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jakub Vrana was not on the ice for the St. Louis Blues at practice on Monday, and speculation began as to whether the forward's time here is done.
The 27-year-old, who's been a healthy scratch for eight games this season, has just six points in 19 games (two goals, four assists) and the tipping point came Saturday in a 3-1 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks when the enigmatic forward was on the ice for two goals against in the first period; he finished with 8:59 ice time in just 11 shifts and has been a minus-2 in each of the past four games he's played in.
The thought was that Vrana and the remaining $2.625 million cap hit he carries would go on waivers on Monday, and he still could, but he did not and it was reported that he's been available for trade and that still could be an option.
But bottom line is Vrana's time with the Blues, who acquired him from the Detroit Red Wings last season for forward Dylan McLaughlin and a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is apparently over.
"Doug [Armstrong] just said he's not practicing today and if there's any more questions, talk to Doug about that." Blues coach Craig Berube said.
So the mystery continues for Vrana, whose gear and skates were still hanging in his locker stall after practice Monday. But it's still hard to fathom how much things have changed for Vrana after he put up 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 20 games after being acquired last season and had such upside coming in.
"Last year he came in and produced, I think, from an offensive standpoint" Berube said. "You can't look at that from last year to this year. It's two different years. Coming in when he came in last year, there's nothing to lose. You just go play. ... He scored some goals and did some good things. This year it's been a struggle. I really don't have anything more to say about it than that."
Vrana was first made a healthy scratch for two games Oct. 26-27 against the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks before returning Nov. 1 against the Colorado Avalanche; he made his points known he wasn't happy about it, and a player shouldn't be, and Berube outlined why he was and what he needs to do to be a more effective player, but the continued lack of compete off the puck, taking ill-timed penalties, among other things recently has led things to come to a head.
We'll see if the Blues find a trade partner to move on to another situation, or if they eventually waive Vrana. If claimed, they are completely off the hook for his cap. If not, the Blues can assign him to Springfield of the American Hockey League.
