Former Detroit Red Wings forward already in hot water quickly after departing from the NHL
Photo credit: NHL.com
Former Detroit Red Wings star Jakub Vrana has gotten himself in trouble with his newest team in the SHL, Linkoping.
The Detroit Red Wings waived Jakub Vrana on January 3rd, 2023, after he spent significant time in the NHL/NHLPA assistance program. He would find himself traded to the St. Louis Blues after clearing waivers. There he'd play the next two seasons in the league, until his final year with the Predators.
He hasn't been able to sustain much of a career in the NHL, and the evidence is clear
if you read the news out of Sweden nowadays.
if you read the news out of Sweden nowadays.
During a team-building exercise with his new club in the SHL, Linköping, he was accused of leaving camp. If the rumors regarding Vrana are true, this is terrible news, as he just joined the team for this season and is already in trouble.
The Swedish media outlet "Radiosporten" reported on the matter, where he supposedly said this, leaving his team in the wilderness.
«I'm not here to be in the forest, I'm here to play ice hockey,» the former NHLer is reported to have said.
For teams that view team-bonding as a path to success, this is a case where egoism is negatively affecting the outlook of their new team.
Ex-Red Wing Johan Garpenlov Chimes in on the Situation
As a result of his ongoing controversy in Sweden, Swedish National Team Coach and ex-Red Wings forward Johan Garpenlov would chime in on Vrana. The outlook for him isn't good in Sweden if this is what they truly think of him.
«Those are really bad signals,» Garpenlöv told Swedish website Aftonbladet. «The reason the management is doing that is to see what kind of character the players have. He shows quite clearly what kind of character he has.
«He doesn't want to be a good teammate and help at all. We're seeing that now at the beginning of the season too.»
«He doesn't want to be a good teammate and help at all. We're seeing that now at the beginning of the season too.»
According to reports, Vrana has been benched by his new SHL club, while they've gone 0-3. Which helps give Garpenlov's critique merit, but is it true?
Vrana, meanwhile, has vehemently denied these rumors against him and believes they are "rumor mongering", in his own words. Peter Jakobsson, the Sports Director of Linköping, would address this too, stating the rumors weren't factual:
«I have not heard of Jakub Vrana saying or acting like this,» Jakobsson said.
The ex-Red Wings forward has been dealing with an ongoing groin injury, which he's treated with painkillers. The news regarding his professional career is a troubling downturn for a Stanley Cup champion.
Will he find a new home in Sweden, or have to return to Czechia to continue his professional hockey career after this season?
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 21 | 467 ANSWERS Former Detroit Red Wings forward already in hot water quickly after departing from the NHL Do you think forward Jakub Vrana, an ex-Detroit Red Wing, is creating his own problems lately? | ||
| Yes | 418 | 89.5 % |
| No | 49 | 10.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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