The former Capitals winger hasn't been able to find his scoring touch in St. Louis this year.
After trade talks and other noise prevented Jakub Vrana from being placed on waivers just 24 hours ago, the former Washington Capitals winger now finds himself on the wire with the St. Louis Blues planning to demote him to the AHL.
Vrana is the only player on waivers on Tuesday for the purpose of assignment to the Springfield Thunderbirds. Per reports, his camp was informed that he would be placed on waivers Monday, but those plans fell through as he was made available for trade.
Ultimately, St. Louis hopes the transaction — if Vrana clears — ignites a spark.
The 26-year-old winger hasn't been able to recapture the scoring touch and consistency he showed after being traded to the Blues in March. After picking up 14 points in 20 games to close out last year, he has just two goals and four assists for six points in 19 games so far this season, along with a plus/minus rating of minus-5.
Vrana was originally drafted by Washington 13th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft and spent five years with the organization, putting up 157 points in 284 games. He also had a breakaway goal that helped the Capitals secure a 4-3 win in the title-clinching Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
However, his tenure with the Capitals came to an end during the Peter Laviolette era, as general manager Brian MacLellan traded him to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Anthony Mantha amid "frustration" for the Czech forward.
Teams can enter a claim for his services over the next 24 hours, but if he clears, he will head to the minors. He has a cap hit of $5.25 million from the three-year extension he signed with Detroit in 2021.
When it comes to the possibility of a D.C. reunion, though, it's very unlikely. The team is at the 23-man limit and is expecting Max Pacioretty to come in and help provide scoring on the top-6, and all eyes are also on free agent defenseman Ethan Bear, as the Capitals are reportedly the favorites to sign him to a deal.