Jakub Vrana to enter the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

The NHL has announced that Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana is set to enter the league’s Player Assistance Program.

According to the NHL’s website, “(Vrana) will be unavailable to his Club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the player assistance program of the NHL and NHLPA.”

Vrana was previously not listed on Detroit’s roster page for what the team described as “personal reasons”. Further details of Vrana’s situation are unknown at this time.

The NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program was created in 1996 to help NHL players and their families deal with substance abuse, mental health, and other personal challenges. Players who enter the program can remain there for as long as it takes for their situation to improve. Not much is publicly known about their methods concerning dealing with players in tough conditions. Privacy for the involved parties is a key part of the program.

As part of the program, Vrana will still be paid and will be allowed to rejoin the team once cleared by program administrators.

Vrana played the first two games of the season for the Red Wings, scoring one goal and two points with two victories. His absence will leave a big hole in the Red Wings’ forward group.

The Red Wings now have two top-six forwards out long-term. Two days ago, it was announced that Tyler Bertuzzi was to miss four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury. The emerging team will be forced to make do without these key parts of their lineup.

Vrana has two years remaining on his contract paying him $5.2 million annually. He was traded by Washington in 2021 season in a deal involving Anthony Mantha. Thus far in Detroit, he has scored 22 goals and 32 points in 39 games played, solidifying his role as a legitimate top-six winger.