The Washington Capitals placed left-wing Jakub Vrana on Wednesday, 49 hours before the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 PM ET on Friday. He will likely report to the AHL’s Hershey Bears unless someone claims him.
Per the Capitals, Vrana was waived in part to increase cap flexibility for the rest of the season.
— Sammi Silber 🏒 (@sammisilber) March 5, 2025
Despite recording seven goals and 11 points in just 26 games this season, the 29-year-old has played only one of Washington’s 21 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.
This move likely creates roster space for an acquisition ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. Washington is reportedly in the market for a third-line center.
Sonny Milano, who has missed the last 49 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.
Fischer (DET) too https://t.co/gUK4YQzTcr
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 5, 2025
By Harrison Brown
