The Detroit Red Wings have placed forward Jakub Vrana on waivers. This news has come as a surprise to many, as Vrana had been on a conditioning stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins after participating in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.
Vrana has not played much for the Red Wings in the past three seasons, appearing in just 39 games and accumulating 32 points. Despite his limited ice time, Vrana has a significant cap hit of $5.2 million for the next two seasons.
It is unclear at this time what the future holds for Vrana, but it seems likely that he will be claimed by another team or will be sent to the AHL to continue his stint in the minors to get back into the flow of the game. The Red Wings are in the midst of a rebuild and may be looking to free up cap space and continue to give younger players more opportunities, or they believe Vrana is not ready for the NHL and needs more time in the AHL.
Regardless of where Vrana ends up, it will be interesting to see how he performs and if he can get back to his game after his time with the NHL assistance program. Many Red Wings fans will be keeping a close eye on his progress and hoping to see him return to his best if he clears waivers and continues his re-introduction to the pros while in the AHL.
