Red Wings’ Jakub Vrana Injured First Time On Ice in Traverse City

Left wing Jakub Vrana is having a horrible, no-good, very bad start to his first Detroit Red Wings training camp.

After arriving late because of visa problems, the Czech native went on the ice this morning and was immediately injured.

“Jakub actually hurt his shoulder within the first 10 minutes of the practice,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “He will be reevaluated later on and we will see where he is at.”

Vrana, 25,  is crucial to the Red Wings’ hope to improve an offense that ranked 30th out of 31 NHL teams last season. After being acquired from Washington in the Anthony Mantha trade, Vrana posted eight goals and 11 points in 11 games.

In Washington, Vrana was a secondary scorer behind primary scorers Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie. In Detroit,  he is expected to help lead the charge.  The Red Wings can’t afford to have the same bad luck of injuries they experienced last season when Tyler Bertuzzi only played nine games.

Blashill hadn’t had time to talk to Vrana before he was injured Saturday, but he talk to him last season about what his mission will be in Detroit.

“What I talked about a season ago, when he was traded to us, is there is real opportunity,” Blashill said. “But with that comes real responsibility. We can’t afford for him to be a passenger — does it right some nights and some nights doesn’t and some other guys are then carrying the mail. We need him to be a driver.”