The Washington Capitals announced Thursday that they have signed unrestricted free agent left winger and 2018 Stanley Cup winner Jakub Vrana for a professional tryout at training camp in September.

Forward Jakub Vrana will participate in the 2024 Washington Capitals training camp as part of a professional tryout contract.

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) 15 August 2024

In 284 career games with the Capitals, Vrana recorded 76 goals, 157 points and a +36 rating before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Anthony Mantha on April 12, 2021. He set career highs in goals (25) and points (52) in 69 games during the 2019-20 season. In his final two seasons with the Capitals, he recorded no points and a -8 overall rating in 15 Stanley Cup playoff games as they were eliminated in the first round both times after recording three goals and eight points in 23 games in the 2018 tournament.

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said he saw a “frustrated player” in Vrana’s body language and the team wants to move on from that.

Vrana scored eight goals, half of them in one game, and 11 points in 11 games after being traded. Like Mantha, he underwent shoulder surgery at the start of the 2021–22 season after signing a three-year contract ($5.25 million salary cap hit) and did not return until March. Vrana returned to score 13 goals and 19 points in 26 games, but could only score five goals the following season with Detroit after a stint in the NHL Player Assistance Program and being claimed off waivers over the holidays. Detroit acquired Vrana, who was used as a backup at times during his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, for three games just before the trade deadline to expose him to potential suitors. He finished the season with one goal and two points in five games with the NHL team before being traded again to the St. Louis Blues.

Vrana scored 12 goals and 20 points in 41 games with St. Louis over the past two seasons before being claimed off waivers in January. He has not played in the NHL since Jan. 9.

Washington, which signed Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane in June to bolster its top six forwards, finished last season 27th in the NHL with an average of 2.63 goals per game and 18th with a power-play efficiency of .206.

The Capitals drafted Vrana 13th overall in 2014.

By Harrison Brown