The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan has filed his second-day-of-training-camp notebook, and he focuses on one Jakub Vrana, who is finally healthy after shoulder surgery this past year repaired an issue that he was dealing with for two seasons:
“I can’t describe my excitement,” Vrana said Friday of being able to compete. “Being out for a long time (last season), and the shortened season the previous season, I wasn’t able to play a full season for a few years. I’m real excited and just focusing on what we have to do. I’m enjoying being here and playing hockey.”
The time span feels longer, but Vrana was acquired from Washington at the April 2021 trade deadline for Anthony Mantha and draft picks. Ironically, Mantha also missed most of last season because of shoulder surgery.
When Vrana returned in March, he gave a glimpse to the Wings and fans of what could have been — and what could be this season. Vrana scored 13 goals and had six assists in 26 games.
In his brief time with the Wings, Vrana has 21 goals in 37 games. Touted as a pure goal scorer, Vrana has lived up to the billing.
“Sometimes you know guys are skilled guys and you have an appreciation for their skill,” said coach Derek Lalonde, who saw plenty of Vrana in Washington while he was in Tampa Bay. “But until you are out with them on the ice you don’t get a true appreciation of how skilled they are. But, man, he has a special shot, and he has some offensive tools that are real special.”
