Former Washington Capitals forward Jakub Vrana had a breakthrough game with his new team. Appearing in his fourth game with the Detroit Red Wings since being traded, the former first-round pick scored four goals in the Red Wings’ 7-3 rout of the Dallas Stars.
Vrana becomes the 24th player in Red Wings legendary history to score four goals.
Vrana was traded to Detroit in a blockbuster trade along with defenseman Richard Panik, as the Capitals acquired Anthony Mantha.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Vrana became “frustrated” during what he described as a “tugging war” with Washington’s current and past coaching staffs on the way he was playing. Vrana was a healthy scratch for a pair of games earlier in April.
He got back on the ice scoring a goal and assists in over his last two games with the Capitals before being traded.
His struggles this season with coach Peter Laviolette added to his shortcomings in last year’s playoffs. Now, he gets a fresh start with the Red Wings. In Detroit, expectations are lower, and thus Vrana can develop without the pressure he faced in Washington.
