Stars and Sticks
Fansided

Washington Capitals: Predicting Jakub Vrana’s next contract

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) has his first period shot blocked by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) on January 18, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) has his first period shot blocked by New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield (24) on January 18, 2019, at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Washington Capitals are tight against the salary cap and need to re-sign Jakub Vrana to a good deal that can both please both parties and be affordable.

How they do that lies in the hands of Washington Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan, Jakub Vrana and his agent, all three of them to nod and shake hands. Something that keeps the top-six left winger in Washington to keep the Capitals competitive in a tough Metropolitan Division.

Vrana is coming off his best season in Washington, a complete turnaround from time as a healthy scratch the season before. Vrana suited up for all 82 regular season games in 2018-19 and scored a career-high 24 goals and dished out 23 assists for 47 points.

Vrana just turned 23 and hasn’t even reached the ceiling of his offensive numbers. He clearly is worth every penny for an extension but let’s take a look at where the Capitals currently stand. Remember, Vrana is one of three RFA’s. Christian Djoos and Chandler Stephenson are the other two, both of which filed for arbitration. Vrana hasn’t qualified for arbitration.

More from Editorials

The Capitals currently have $4,285,706 in cap space per CapFriendly. As far as Vrana’s contract goes, the Capitals could go one of two routes. The first, is they could extend Vrana to a long term extension. That would be the best case scenario for both parties.

Or the Capitals could re-sign Vrana to a short-term, bridge deal. That most likely will be the route they go with the tight salary cap constraints but even so, the Capitals would be wise to make a good investment on one of their youngest and most talented forwards.

The Capitals extended Andre Burakovsky to a two-year, $6-million bridge deal two summers ago. Expect Vrana to get one additional year on the short term bridge-deal. Three-years for $9-million, a $3-million AAV.

If that is too lucrative, three years for $7.5 million, a $2.50 million AAV wouldn’t hurt. Don’t count on any offer less than $2 million in AAV.

A three-year bridge deal for Vrana would allow the 23-year old to bet on himself by the time he enters the prime years of his career in which he can qualify as an unrestricted free agent. Anything less than three years and you risk Vrana filing for arbitration.

Breaking down the new Capitals 4th line. dark. Next

Vrana is poised to have a big 2019-20, his third full season in the NHL, and there’s nowhere else he belongs than in Washington. Capitals fans everywhere are waiting in anticipation for a deal to get done soon between Vrana and the Capitals.

Home/Editorials