Newly re-signed Jakub Vrana predicted to have a big season for Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings pulled off one of the NHL Trade Deadline's more notable moves last season, acquiring forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik along with a 1st and 2nd round draft pick in exchange for underachieving forward Anthony Mantha.

And though it was a small sample size, Vrana and the Red Wings appear to be a match made in heaven. 

Vrana scored eight goals (four in one game against the Dallas Stars) and three assists in the 11 games he appeared in with his new club, and showed that he can be the kind of impactful player that helped the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2018. And the team saw fit to reward him with a new three-year contract extension, keeping him in the Motor City through at least 2024. 

And according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Vrana is one of several NHL players who could enjoy breakout seasons. Check out what he had to say below:

"Vrana, 25, has crested over 20 goals twice and ended up with 19 in 50 games last season with the Washington Capitals and Red Wings. He had 11 points in 11 games after being traded to Detroit in a deal that saw Anthony Mantha sent to Washington. That was enough of an audition to earn him a three-year, $15.75 million extension as a restricted free agent.

The Red Wings are going to let Vrana cook. His time on ice jumped by nearly three minutes (17:16) when he arrived in Detroit. Best of all, he averaged 10 shots per game at 5-on-5 in that short sample, which is hopefully a harbinger of things to come: Vrana was at his best offensively in Washington when he was spraying shots on goal like a backyard sprinkler at even strength.

On a rebuilding team desperately seeking a goal-scoring boost -- Detroit's 2.23 goals per game was second fewest in the NHL last season -- Vrana is going to get a chance to shine. "My role has changed a little bit. I'm looking forward to prove what I can do and show my potential," he told reporters recently."