Blues place struggling Vrana on waivers

It may have occurred one day later than expected, but the St. Louis Blues officially placed Jakub Vrana on waivers Tuesday.

J.P. Barry, Vrana's agent, told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford the Blues informed his client Monday morning that he'd be placed on waivers, but the struggling forward didn't end up on the wire that afternoon.

Vrana has been available for a trade, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The 27-year-old mustered two goals and six points in 19 games while averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per contest. He has sat as an occasional healthy scratch throughout the season.

Blues head coach Craig Berube deployed Vrana for a mere 8:59 during Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after he was on the ice for two goals against in the opening frame.

St. Louis acquired Vrana from the Detroit Red Wings at last season's trade deadline in exchange for forward Dylan McLaughlin and a 2025 seventh-round pick. Detroit retained 50% of Vrana's $5.25-million cap hit in the swap.

Vrana initially made a strong impression with the Blues, potting 10 goals and 14 points in 20 games in 2022-23.

"You can't look at that from last year to this year," Berube said Monday, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "It's two different years. Coming in when he came in last year, there's nothing to lose. You just go play. He scored some goals and did some good things. This year it's been a struggle."

Vrana can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Selected by Washington with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Vrana helped the Capitals clinch the Stanley Cup in 2018.

Vrana has amassed 110 goals and 209 points in 365 career NHL contests.

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