The Capitals' competition at forward is getting more intense down the stretch, and Vrana's ready to do what he can to win a spot.
Though it's been over three years since he was last in D.C., Jakub Vrana doesn't feel like all that much time has gone by. And for the Czech winger, it's made training camp all that much sweeter as he looks to keep his comeback tour going with the Washington Capitals.
Vrana is attending camp on a professional tryout agreement after hitting free agency for the first time over the summer, and though his start to the preseason didn't go according to plan, his turnaround performance on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils helped him set himself apart as players compete for a roster spot.
It's no secret that the next couple of weeks will be difficult, as the 28-year-old will have to outplay the likes of Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ethen Frank, Andrew Cristall and more to win a spot in the lineup. However, he's up for the challenge, and ready to do what he can to return to the team that welcomed him to the NHL in the first place.
"I get that (space is limited). I'm here to show that I can play and I'm out there and I want the spot. I don't try to overthink it too much," Vrana said. "Obviously, pressure is there. We as the players are used to that pressure and I go to every game and every practice with, 'Just do your best and let's see where it takes you.'"
Looking at his camp as a whole — excluding that minus-3 performance back on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers — Vrana said he's feeling confident about where things are headed.
And, for "V," a lot of the credit goes to the coaches and his teammates.
"The coaching staff's been great, they've been communicating with me, they've been helping me out with whatever I need to be helped out with," Vrana said. "I have a really positive feeling about being here."
Still, even though a homecoming would be a huge moment, Vrana isn't trying to think too far ahead. Instead, he's staying in the moment, and he's hoping that mentality will help him continue to prove he belongs back in the District full-time.
"I have positive feelings. Of course, there's always things you can improve, right, as a player. So far it's been intense. I did expect intense camp," Vrana said. "I go day by day, just trying to get the best out of every day, and that's how it's been going."
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