Capitals sign Vrana to two-year deal
The Washington Capitals have signed Jakub Vrana to a two-year $6.7 million contract, the team announced today. The Capitals originally drafted Vrana with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft.
Vrana is a top six forward who usually plays left wing. This is a huge deal for the Caps as Vrana is coming off a breakout season where he had 23 goals and 24 assists.
The Caps have a very good player in Vrana. This is a bridge deal for Vrana who was a restricted free agent.
The 23-year old forward set career highs in goals, assists and points last season
by Washington Capitals @Capitals / WashingtonCaps.comThe Washington Capitals have signed left wing Jakub Vrana to a two-year, $6.7 million contract, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. Vrana’s contract will carry an average annual value of $3.35 million.
“Jakub is a highly skilled player with a tremendous upside and is a big part of our future,” said MacLellan. “We are pleased with his development the past two seasons and are looking forward for him to continue to develop and reach his full potential with our organization.”
Vrana, 23, set career highs in goals (24), assists (23) and points (47) last season and ranked third on the team in goals. The 6’0″, 197-pound forward was on the ice for 59 goals at five-on-five and 37 goals against, recording the best differential among forwards on the Capitals. The Prague, Czech Republic, native became the 15th player in franchise history to record at least 24 goals in a single season before the age of 24 and the first since Nicklas Backstrom in 2009-10 (33 goals). Additionally, Vrana’s 145 shots at five-on-five ranked second on the Capitals, trailing only Alex Ovechkinfor the most five-on-five shots by a Capitals forward in the last three seasons.
In 176 career games, all with the Capitals, Vrana has recorded 80 points (40g, 40a).
Internationally, Vrana represented the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World Championships, his first time playing for the Czech Republic at the senior level, recording five points (4g, 1a) in nine games. Additionally, Vrana represented the Czech Republic at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 World Junior Championships, recording six points (3g, 3a) in 16 games and the 2013 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, recording four points (3g, 1a) in four games en route to earning a bronze medal.
Vrana was drafted by the Capitals in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft.
