Confirmed with Link: Capitals and Vrana agree to PTO

[CapitalsCupReality]

I see this as more of a solid for an old friend trying to fix his life. If he plays hard maybe he makes the team. Or maybe he gets some preseason teams and we can get him on somebody else’s roster.

Also I never want to hear how we lost that trade ever again.

This….

 

[Hivemind]

.913% is struggling?

minor league/developmental league goalie stats are a pretty terrible metric for evaluating goalies, but Braden Holtby had a .911sv% (and a worse GAA) in the ECHL. So writing off Cossa because of his ECHL stats seems rather foolish, especially considering he took the next step in the AHL this year.

 

[DWGie26]

I mean caps aren’t in the charity business (well maybe outside of the ice), but they do have a culture of taking care of their own.

This is about two things:
1. Foremost, creating competition in camp. Competition is good. It raises everyone’s game. And it costs us nothing
2. Doing a solid for someone Caps know and respect. But again, costs us nothing.

It is just another calculated gamble, which i love about GMBM. If it doesn’t work, costs nothing. If it works out and he is a good 3LW (with 2LW upside) because he finds hockey religion and can contribute, then it is a big win.

If i had to bet on it, Varna won’t be here in October.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Right. All of this above from everyone.

IF he somehow makes the team, it’s either because serious injury to someone, or he takes someone else’s sweater.

Either of which, means we should be happy to have that option were it to come to pass.

Go #13! (Great number!)

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

I really don't like the both revisionist history and the seeming distasteful glee people seem to have around Vrana here. At the absolute worst, Vrana had "personality" issues here that seemingly amounted too he didn't like riding the bench. To act like he was some drug addict tanking the team is ridiculous. This isn't a guy like Kuznetsov who was off doing blow, this wasn't Mike Ribero who was constantly drunk and supposedly showing up to games drunk, Vrana supposedly got addicted to pain killers long after he'd left here, after taking them for legitimate reasons, and after getting injured playing. That can literally happen to anyone.

Just rubs me the wrong way.

Agreed. I loved Jake when he was here and he seemingly was a fan favorite so I don’t get why people are down on this. I’m very pumped to have him back. At his best, Vrana is exactly what they need — an explosive skater who can create offense by himself and score goals in bunches. I’m all about the redemption story, pulling for him big time (though I don’t expect much, tbh).

 

[usiel]

Agreed. I loved Jake when he was here and he seemingly was a fan favorite so I don’t get why people are down on this. I’m very pumped to have him back. At his best, Vrana is exactly what they need — an explosive skater who can create offense by himself and score goals in bunches. I’m all about the redemption story, pulling for him big time (though I don’t expect much, tbh).

I remember when the Caps drafted him and the thing they said that stood out was his goal scoring ability. Sure his 2way game never fully developed and never really will but goal scoring is hard.

 

[trick9]

Seems like a personal favor so he can get his final crack at an NHL-contract before bolting to Europe.

Hoping it works for him but i'll believe it when i see it.

 

[bacchist]

If he earns a roster spot, we get an asset for absolutely nothing. If doesn't, he's still going to make some of the guys on the cusp fight like hell to make the team. It's a free... Not lottery ticket but maybe a couple scratch offs.

 

[Jags]

So long as it's primarily a meritocracy, I'm fine with it. It'd sure be nice if that pick finally panned out, regardless of the story attached to it.

Merit can't be the only consideration though. If he's going to "block one of the kids" then the contract has to have real value for us. Let's say he ends up being like 8% better than a prospect in camp. I don't want him on what'll amount to a 1-year rental deal in lieu of developing a pick if the difference is marginal.

But if he's really got the magic back, looking like he did when he (briefly) erupted in Detroit, then yeah, do the rental deal for a deadline flip. Or, if he really seems to have his shit together over those 6 months and is still balling out, talk to him about an extension.

Lastly, by "kid" I mean a key prospect with a bunch of cost-controlled years ahead. If Vrana beats Frank out and Frank can't take a spot from Milano or Raddysh or whoever, then that's that.

 

[zappa4ever]

Vrana hasn't had a "successful" season in years

Wish him the best and maybe he strikes gold and has a great showing in camp, lord knows he'll have the motivation

but duder hasn't hit 20g since 2019-20 with WSH (tho he was on pace in 2020-21)

otoh he's 28 and has low NHL mileage on his body, so who tf knows; hasn't played more than 26GP since 2020-21 (50GP)

conversely... beats the shit out of me
my .000002

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Pretty crazy that his last full season here was his last season that is even remotely close to actually playing a full season (played 69 games in 19-20)….23 yr old peak strikes again….

 

[bacchist]

Vrana hasn't had a "successful" season in years

Wish him the best and maybe he strikes gold and has a great showing in camp, lord knows he'll have the motivation

but duder hasn't hit 20g since 2019-20 with WSH (tho he was on pace in 2020-21)

otoh he's 28 and has low NHL mileage on his body, so who tf knows; hasn't played more than 26GP since 2020-21 (50GP)

conversely... beats the shit out of me
my .000002

There was obviously stuff going on that kept him off the ice or in the AHL for "conditioning", but everything considered he sure looks like he can still be an asset.

Since he was here last time he went 34-18-52 in 83 NHL games. He also went 22-25-47 in 59 games in the AHL during that period, between 2 teams.

Last year wasn't his best... He shot 4.8% in 21 games in St Louis. Way below his average, and his ice time was reduced. Maybe he just had a short leash on a team trying not to miss the playoffs again (even though they did). But he ate in the AHL with 36 points in 42 games.

We're basically free rolling on him in terms of contract and we have up nothing for the opportunity. Pretty savvy if you ask me

 

[Ridley Simon]

I’ve a GW worn Vrana jersey — so would be happy to see it “be a thing” again.

Rocking the Vrana Red #13 baby.

I think it’s going to happen. Mark my words!

 

[marcel snapshot]

We're basically free rolling on him in terms of contract and we have up nothing for the opportunity. Pretty savvy if you ask me

Yep. We know, better than most, the risks here. So there must be something that persuaded them that it was still worth giving him a (cost-free) look

 

[Melkor]

Also I never want to hear how we lost that trade ever again.

It's not that they won it either so let's not pretend they got something of that. At least Wings got some solid scoring from him and a pick to boot. Mantha basically wasted everyone's time including his own.

 

[Melkor]

Also get out of here with that "Milano is the better defensive player..." bullshit. Not a soul would sign that dude for his defense and he's been scratched multiple times last season.

Always amusing when the fans tryna pump the tires of their players even when they suck.

 

[Midnight Judges]

It's kinda sad to see. This is a player that had the talent where he should be gunning for a $20M contract at this stage of his career.

 

[g00n]

How Jakub Vrana could make the Capitals’ roster out of training camp

The Washington Capitals brought Jakub Vrana back via a professional tryout agreement on Thursday. Now it will be up to Vrana to…

russianmachineneverbreaks.com

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

It's kinda sad to see. This is a player that had the talent where he should be gunning for a $20M contract at this stage of his career.

It is sad, but there IS a redemption story there to be had, but he has to come in, fantastic shape and work ethic to make it happen….

 

[DWGie26]

It is sad, but there IS a redemption story there to be had, but he has to come in, fantastic shape and work ethic to make it happen….

Yes… this! ^^^.

It is up to the player. And same goes for everyone fighting for a spot including Frank, Sutter, Iorio, etc. The players who separate themselves will earn the spots (and time).

 

[VaCaps Fan]

He loves the organization. I am recovering from substance abuse myself.

 

[DWGie26]

He loves the organization. I am recovering from substance abuse myself.

There is lots of nasty shit out there. And it hooks good people who don’t deserve it but can’t recover. I was close as well when i herniated a disc in back when i grounded a golf club. I was lucky and able to heal without getting addicted but quitting cold turkey was a bitch!

Good on you VaCaps for fighting the fight. Stay strong! It’s hard but better than the alternative!

 

[VaCaps Fan]

Yeah I was smoking weed with fentanyl in it…

 

[DWGie26]

Yeah I was smoking weed with fentanyl in it…

That’s a different kind of real brother. Stay strong.

 

[marcel snapshot]

That stuff can hijack lives. So insidious - fools you into thinking it’s the only thing you can count on. Props to you for taking charge and fighting back against it VACaps.