But once you make it to hockey’s highest level, it is just as critical to playing strong on the defensive side as it is the offensive. If you can’t make the adjustment, your stay in the NHL generally isn’t too long.
When the Washington Capitals drafted Jakub Vrana with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft, they were banking on his high offensive upside and have gotten that early on in his professional career.
During the past two seasons (including this year) with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, Vrana has lived up to that billing, registering right at a point-per-game pace up to the where he finally got the call to the big club in D.