Jakub Vrana Enters Player Assistance Program
via Dave Reginek
Last Wednesday afternoon, the NHLPA put out a formal statement announcing that Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana would be absent from the team for an indefinite period due to being put into the NHL and NHLPA’s player assistance program.
In this statement, the NHLPA said, “The National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League announced today that forward Jakub Vrana of the Detroit Red Wings will be unavailable to his Club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the player assistance program of the NHL and NHLPA.”
The NHL and NHLPA player assistance program was implemented in 1996 and it gives players access to confidential phone lines and counselors that are located in each city of the league. The program provides help to players and their families with problems relating to mental health, substance abuse, and other matters.
The 26-year-old forward from the Czech Republic was drafted thirteenth overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. He made his NHL debut on December 1st 2016, against the New York Islanders and scored his first goal on December 9, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres. Vrana was a part of the 2018 Capitals team that won the Stanley Cup by beating the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. He has scored eight points in 23 playoff games.
On April 12th 2021, Vrana, along with forward Richard Panik and a couple of draft picks, was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Anthony Mantha. He got off to a hot start with Detroit scoring eleven points in his first eleven games, and finished with 18 points in 23 games. In August of that offseason, Detroit signed Vrana to a three-year contract worth a total of $16.25 million. Vrana was injured during a practice, and was expected to be sidelined for three to four months. As a result, he only played in 26 games where he put up 19 points. Vrana has appeared in two games this season and scored one goal along with one assist.
Vrana had been absent from the team since Monday, missing a game on Monday and practice on Tuesday, and Derek Lalonde, coach of the Red Wings, said it was for “personal reasons.” The reason for Vrana entering the program is currently undisclosed.
