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Jakub Vrana is now Officially on waivers. Some of you saw that I made a correction. The Athletic reported that Vrana was on waivers, then Friedman contacted the team and reported that Vrana was “available…. Now Friedman is reporting that the St. Louis Blues have indeed placed Vrana on waivers. The Athletic usually has good sources, and it was speculated that St. Louis let it be known that Vrana was going to hit the wire and a possible deal could have nixed that move. It’s all speculation and way too confusing, but Vrana is back on the wire.
Detroit is severely depleted but I haven’t heard from anyone that there’s a desire to take another look at Vrana. I was initially wrong about the acquisition as Mantha went to Washington and Vrana’s numbers that year weren’t good. When JV got to Detroit he was scoring on every 3rd or 4th shot. I had a plate of crow, it looked like Detroit had won that deal handily.
While Mantha is still with Washington, he’s been on the trade bait board for a while now. The team isn’t happy with the return. Now, Vrana is on waivers again and a player with so much potential seems to just be night and day. We’ll see how it all pans out.
For Detroit, playing back to backs without Larkin, Perron and Compher isn’t ideal. The landscape changed quickly for Detroit. Patrick Kane comes to town, lots of excitement. Compher out, not good. Larkin has had a few weeks filled with physical and emotional pain. Hopes and prayers that the Larkin family catches a break.
With the current setting, Detroit sits in 12th in the league with a +12 differential. St. Louis is at 20th with a -12 differential. Still, a back to back without a chunk of your top 6 means that the goalie may well have to steal one. I remarked yesterday that Reimer wasn’t getting much support, but that first period goal with .2 seconds left was painful. You still need a goalie letting in fewer than 4 or 5, not an enviable job right now.
We’ll see what the team looks like when they hit the ice, but at some point one or both of Compher or Larkin are needed back in action.