NEWS: Nashville Predators Claim Jakub Vrana, Jordan Oesterle off Waivers

The Nashville Predators claimed forward Jakub Vrana (Washington Capitals) and defenseman Jordan Oesterle (Boston Bruins) off waivers on Thursday.

Vrana, 28, is a 6-foot, 190-pound winger who has 117 goals and 103 assists in 393 career NHL games, the majority of which have come with Washington. Current Predators general manager Barry Trotz coached Vrana during his first four seasons in the NHL (2016 – 2019) when he was head coach of the Capitals.

Oesterle, 32, is a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive defenseman who has also played 393 career NHL games, recording 20 goals and 72 assists. He has appeared in just 22 games with the Bruins this season and scored his first goal of the season against the Predators on Tuesday.

The Predators picked up Vrana and Oesterle just one day after trading defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They acquired forward Michael Bunting in the deal, but he remains on IR after undergoing an appendectomy last week.

With the pair of waiver pickups, the Predators’ active roster is now at 22 – 15 forwards, 10 defensemen, and two goaltenders. Nashville currently has five players on injured reserve including Bunting, Roman Josi, Adam Wilsby, Jeremy Lauzon and Zachary L’Heureux.

The Predators are set to take on the Seattle Kraken Thursday at 7 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena.