Jakub Vrána facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jakub Vrána |
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Vrána with the Washington Capitals in 2019
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| Born | 28 February 1996 Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Free Agent Linköping HC Washington Capitals Detroit Red Wings St. Louis Blues Nashville Predators |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 13th overall, 2014 Washington Capitals |
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| Playing career | 2013–present | ||
Jakub Vrána (born February 28, 1996) is a professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He plays as a forward and is currently a free agent. He last played for the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL). Jakub was chosen by the Washington Capitals as the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft. He has also played for the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues. Jakub Vrána helped the Capitals win the famous Stanley Cup in 2018.
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Early Life and Hockey Start
Jakub Vrána was born in Prague, Czech Republic, on February 28, 1996. His parents are Jana and Karel. He started skating at a young age. When he was 15, he moved away from home to play in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). This was a big step for a young player! He also played in a special youth hockey tournament in Quebec, Canada, in 2009.
Playing Career Highlights
Playing in Sweden
Jakub Vrána began his professional hockey journey in Sweden. He made his debut in the top Swedish league, called Elitserien (now SHL), in October 2012. He was one of the youngest foreign players ever to play in that league! He spent a couple of seasons playing for Linköping HC. He played for both their junior and senior teams. By the end of the 2013–14 season, he was considered one of the top young European players.
Joining the Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals picked Jakub Vrána in the first round of the 2014 NHL entry draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. After being drafted, he signed a contract with the Capitals.
He spent the 2014–15 season back in Sweden. Then, he came to North America to play for the Hershey Bears. This team is the Capitals' minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). In his first full season with the Bears (2015–16), he scored many points. However, he had wrist surgery and missed some games. Even so, he finished with 16 goals and 18 assists in 36 games. He also played well in the playoffs, helping the Bears.
In the 2016–17 season, Jakub started with the Bears again. But soon, he got his first call-up to the NHL! He made his NHL debut on December 1, 2016, playing against the New York Islanders. A few games later, on December 9, he scored his very first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres.
Winning the Stanley Cup
Jakub Vrána made the Capitals' main roster for the 2017–18 season. This was his first full season in the NHL. He scored 13 goals and had 14 assists in 73 games.
He played a big role in the 2018 playoffs. He scored his first playoff goal on April 29, 2018, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals went on to win that series. Then, they won the Eastern Conference. In the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, Jakub scored the first goal in Game 5. This goal helped the Capitals win the game and the Stanley Cup! It was the first Stanley Cup win in the team's history. Jakub finished the playoffs with 8 points in 23 games.
After winning the Cup, Jakub continued to improve. In the 2018–19 season, he had his best year yet. He scored 24 goals and had 23 assists, setting new personal records. Because of his great play, the Capitals signed him to a new two-year contract in July 2019.
Moving to Detroit
On April 12, 2021, Jakub Vrána was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. He quickly made an impact with his new team. He scored 11 points in his first 11 games. In one game against the Dallas Stars on April 22, he scored four goals! This was a huge achievement.
In August 2021, he signed a new three-year contract with the Red Wings. Unfortunately, he got injured during practice and missed a lot of the 2021–22 season. He played 26 games that season, scoring 13 goals. In October 2022, Jakub took a break from playing to focus on his well-being.
In January 2023, the Red Wings made Jakub available to other teams. No team claimed him, so he was sent to play for their minor league team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Time with the St. Louis Blues
On March 3, 2023, Jakub Vrána was traded again, this time to the St. Louis Blues. He seemed to find his scoring touch again with the Blues. He scored 10 goals in 20 games, which was a great performance.
He started the 2023–24 season with the Blues. However, he sometimes missed practices and was not always in the lineup. In December 2023, the Blues announced they were looking to trade him. He played two more games for the Blues before being sent to their minor league team, the Springfield Thunderbirds. While with the Thunderbirds, he was suspended for two games for a penalty called cross-checking. He finished his contract playing for the Thunderbirds.
Back to Washington and Nashville
After his contract with the Blues ended, Jakub Vrána became a free agent. He was invited to try out for his original team, the Washington Capitals, in August 2024. He played well enough to make the team and signed a one-year contract.
However, on March 5, 2025, the Capitals made him available to other teams again. The very next day, the Nashville Predators claimed him. He played for the Predators for the rest of the 2024-25 season.
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year | |
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| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2018 | |
Images for kids
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Vrána with the Washington Capitals in 2019
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Vrána with the Hershey Bears in 2015
