Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins Rival Leaves the NHL For Europe
Photo credit: Pittsburgh Hockey Now
Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins rival Jakub Vrana has decided to leave the NHL and head overseas to Europe, likely signing in Sweden, according to Puck Empire.
Jakub Vrana seems to be returning to Sweden, and perhaps shutting the door on his NHL career.
According to Swedish outlet 'Expressen', and reported by 'Puck Empire', the former Capitals winger and longtime Penguins rival will sign a contract with Linköping HC, his former junior team, for the 2025-26 SHL season.
Jakub Vrana spent four years with Linköping as a junior player before beginning his NHL career in Washington, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2018.
Linköping GM Peter Jakobsson had already expressed his interest in bringing Vrana back, and Expressen's Johan Svensson now reports that a deal is in place, with sponsors contributing towards his salary.
"We have a dialogue and Jakub is well aware of our interest," Jakobsson said then, via Google Translate. "It would always be an exciting name for us. Of course we keep in touch with him and the agent, but as before it is a long shot."
The official announcement could be made as early as next week, with Vrana is set to be "well paid." If confirmed, the transaction probably marks the end of Vrana's NHL career. A six-season Capital, he was dealt to Detroit in 2021.
Vrana Struggled in the NHL and Even Joined the Player Assistance Program
Injuries and personal issues, including time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, limited his contribution, and he ultimately shuttled between Detroit, St. Louis, and the AHL.
Somewhat surprisingly, Vrana re-signed with Washington on a professional tryout last fall and earned a contract from camp.
He played sporadic minutes, suiting up for just one NHL game after January 10, before being claimed off waivers by Nashville in March. He appeared in 13 games for the Predators down the stretch but wasn't re-signed this summer.
Vrana will be the second Capitals player to sign in the SHL this offseason, after Nicklas Backstrom signed with Brynäs IF.
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