TRAVERSE CITY — Seeing a specialist is a never a good sign, and that is what is next for injured Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana.
That Vrana has a date on Monday with a doctor who will further examine his injured shoulder was as much information as coach Jeff Blashill would share about Vrana after Sunday’s Red-White scrimmage on Day 4 of training camp at Centre Ice Arena.
“I’ll have more of an update as I find out relevant information,” Blashill said.
It’s unclear how Vrana was injured, but he left Saturday’s practice 10 minutes after it began.
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Vrana had just arrived at training camp that day because he was held up in his native Czech Republic while awaiting a visa. Vrana figures as a key part of the Wings’ offense, expected to fill a spot in the top-six mix and on a power play unit. The 25-year-old was acquired in April as part of a package from the Washington Capitals for Anthony Mantha, and signed a three-year contract with an average annual value of $5.25 million in August.
With Vrana unavailable, 2020 top pick Lucas Raymond played in his spot Sunday, on a line with Pius Suter and Robby Fabbri.
“He made some really good plays,” Suter said of Raymond. “He finds the spot to pass. He can shoot the puck. He looks comfortable. He looks confident.”
In other injury updates, Blashill said Dylan Larkin won’t be available when exhibition season begins. Larkin has not yet been cleared for full contact, dating to the neck injury he suffered in April.
If Vrana is out for any length of time, it could be an opening for Bobby Ryan to earn a contract. He’s in camp on a tryout, but the team knows what he can do from last season, when Ryan, 34, posted seven goals and seven assists in 33 games.
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