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Washington Capitals: Top 5 players to get excited for

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on before a game against the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals looks on before a game against the New York Islanders at Capital One Arena on April 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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#3 Jakub Vrana

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals warms up before playing against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: Jakub Vrana #13 of the Washington Capitals warms up before playing against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Jakub Vrana gets to prove himself for a massive contract extension for the next two years. He enters the first year of his two-year, $6.7-million contract extension, an extension well deserved.

He’s been a fan favorite since bursting on the NHL scene in December of 2016. He scored his first goal in Buffalo and Caps fans got a glimpse of a future forward that can possesses speed, strength and agility on the ice.

Vrana has had quite the offseason around his contract extension. First he represented the Czech Republic at the IIHF Worlds. He hung out with Andre Burakovsky and has been overseas training for the new season.

Last season he scored a career-high 24 goals and 23 assists for 47 points and he’s expecting to get even closer to his ceiling in 2019-20. If there’s one thing he should improve is his performance on the power play attack.

Vrana looks for a 30-goal season and the more PPGs he can get, the closer V will be for that 30. Expect him to be on the second line and maybe an extended look on the top line in case age happens to catch up to Alex Ovechkin.

It’ll be cool watching Vrana as he’s still just 23 and won’t turn 24 till the end of February.

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