Detroit Red Wings Acquire Seventh-Round Pick in 2025 NHL Entry Draft and Dylan McLaughlin from St. Louis Blues for Jakub Vrana

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Published on:
March 3, 2023
  • Detroit Currently Holds 27 Selections in Next Three NHL Entry Drafts

The Detroit Red Wings today acquired a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and center Dylan McLaughlin from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for left wing Jakub Vrana. The Red Wings will retain 50 percent of Vrana’s salary and have loaned McLaughlin to the American Hockey League’s Springfield Thunderbirds.

Vrana, 27, appeared in five games with the Red Wings this season, tallying a goal and an assist on Oct. 15 at New Jersey. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward also recorded 11 points (6-5-11) and four penalty minutes in 17 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. In all, Vrana tallied 32 points (22-10-32), 18 penalty minutes and a 21.2 shooting percentage in 42 games with the Red Wings after being acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on April 12, 2021. Originally selected by Washington in the first round (13th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Vrana has compiled 189 points (98-91-189), a plus-30 rating and 85 penalty minutes in 326 games between the Capitals and Red Wings. In his first full NHL season in 2017-18, Vrana helped the Capitals win a Stanley Cup championship, posting 27 points (13-14-27) in 73 regular-season games before adding eight points (3-5-8) in 23 postseason contests. A native of Prague, Czech Republic, Vrana has also registered 86 points (41-45-86), a plus-19 rating and 52 penalty minutes in 105 AHL games with the Hershey Bears and Griffins since 2014-15, in addition to 20 points (10-10-20) and eight penalty minutes in 38 postseason appearances. Prior to arriving in North America, Vrana spent four seasons developing in Sweden, where he debuted professionally with Linkoping in the Swedish Hockey League in 2012-13 and logged 27 points (14-13-27) and 14 penalty minutes in 73 games until 2014-15. He also racked up 58 points (35-23-58), a plus-11 rating and 77 penalty minutes in 59 games in Sweden’s top junior league. On the international stage, Vrana has represented his country at the last three IIHF World Championships, combining for 10 points (7-3-10) in 26 games. Vrana also recorded six points (3-3-6) in 16 games at three-straight IIHF World Junior Championships from 2013-15 along with 20 points (14-6-20) in 18 games at three-consecutive IIHF World Under-18 Championships from 2012-14.

The Red Wings have now accumulated 27 draft picks in the next three NHL Entry Drafts, including five first-round selections and five second-round picks.