Conflicting news for Jakub Vrana after getting waived…
What does it mean for his future?
HockeyFeed
On Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues placed forward Jakub Vrana on waivers just before head coach Craig Berube was fired following a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. The loss was the season-worst fourth straight for the Blues, who are off to a 13-14-1 start to the season.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Vrana has cleared waivers and will remain in the organization for now.
This has to be conflicting news for Vrana, who could however get a second chance under interim head coach Drew Bannister, coach of the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (the Blues’ affiliate), who takes over.
This whole waiver debacle takes place as the Blues were reportedly working on a trade to ship Vrana out of St. Louis. Vrana’s agent J.P. Barry of CAA Hockey had mentioned how his client was expected to be placed on waivers on Monday, but there was a delay due to trade interest.
“He was informed this morning (that he was being placed on waivers), and I guess they changed their minds,” Barry said, per The Athletic. “They must have got phone calls between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“I’m sure they just got into some discussions, or some follow-up discussions.”
So far this season, Vrana has registered two goals and four assists in 19 games and needs his streak of bad luck to come to an end. It could be the case under Bannister. Who knows? Or maybe trade rumours will picked back up. Before he was shipped off to St. Louis this summer, it had been reported that the New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks had expressed interest for Vrana.
This has to be a tough time for Vrana, who now feels like he's out of the Blues, while staying in limbo on what's to come. Should he be sent down to the AHL, he could get some confidence back, while he could stay with the Blues to see how he does under Bannister.
That's what I would like to see, personally.
UPDATE: Vrana has officially been sent down to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
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