Left-wing Jakub Vrana was claimed by the Nashville on Thursday, 25 hours before the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 PM ET on Friday, after the Washington Capitals placed the 29-year-old on waivers.
Washington recalled defenseman Alexander Alexeyev from the AHL’s Hershey Bears on Thursday with the open roster spot that was created by waiving Vrana.
Nashville was third in line on the waiver order, which is determined by the current league standings.
Despite recording seven goals and 11 points in just 26 games this season, the 29-year-old has played only one of Washington’s 22 games since January 7 due to Tom Wilson missing the team’s 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on February 27 with an illness.
Vrana can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and carries a $775,000 salary cap hit for this season.
Predators GM Barry Trotz and Vrana won the Stanley Cup together in Washington in 2018. Vrana (14th overall) was the first draft pick that the Capitals made after hiring Trotz as their head coach in 2014.
Washington is reportedly in the market for a third-line center ahead of the trade deadline.
Sonny Milano, who has missed the last 50 games with an upper-body injury, has also been practicing and taking contact.
Vrana has cleared waivers in each of the last three seasons by three different teams. The Detroit Red Wings traded Vrana to the St. Louis Blues on March 3, 2023 a few months after placing him on waivers.
Washington hosts Detroit a few hours after the trade deadline passes on Friday (7 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market).
Nashville claims Jakub Vrana off waivers from Washington.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 6, 2025
By Harrison Brown
