Jakub Vrána could be late season addition the Detroit Red Wings need

The Detroit Red Wings are continuing to try and move farther up the standings in the Atlantic Division. While it may seem crazy to think they will make a playoff run, it’s really not all that impossible.

It honestly seems like the Detroit Red Wings could shock a lot of people and somehow find a way to sneak into the postseason. Some things that could directly impact that are what happens when the calendar flips to 2022 and the trade deadline gets closer and closer.

Beyond that, that late-season addition that helps push the Red Wings across the finish line is going to be important as well. Jakub Vrána has a chance to be that person for the organization this season.

It’s not to say he would come back and post Gretzky-like numbers leading the team to the playoffs and yada yada yada, but getting him back at the right time might just be one of those things that helps push this team over the edge.

Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrána might return at just the right time.

It was incredibly unfortunate timing for Vrána and his injury. Just a few days into practice and getting back on the ice with the Red Wings, he sustained a shoulder injury. The news broke that he would be out four months at the very end of September, basically October.

That being said, the four months timeline would put him at a return of sometime in February. However, some later comments from Blashill made it seem like he may be out through February and be a very late return, if at all.

With all of this up in the air and no new updates, the best thing to do is be optimistic. That being said, if Vrána comes back in February, he could come back and be a quality addition to the team’s top-six.

After being acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Mantha to the Washington Capitals, Vrána has settled in nicely. In his 11 games with the Red Wings, he had eight goals and three assists for 11 total points. Quite the hot start for the newly acquired forward.

In total, he finished the season with 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 total points over 50 games played between the Capitals and Red Wings throughout 2020-21. Red Wings General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman must have been pleased because he handed Vrána a nice three-year, $5.25 million AAV extension.

While the first year is going to have the Red Wings coming up empty on the deal, he’s got two more years to be a significant part of this team’s offense. Whenever he may return, it may just help the Red Wings get their offense to the next level to truthfully be a competitor.

While there’s still work to be done and pieces to be added/replaced, the Red Wings are fun to watch and certainly prove they will be very competitive in the near future. Sometimes all it takes is that one piece to start a run or change the luck; it might just be Vrána.