Czech professional ice hockey player (born 1999)
Ice hockey player
Filip Král (born 20 October 1999) is a Czech professional ice hockey player for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 149th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[1]
Playing career
Král began playing hockey in his hometown of Blansko at the age of three.[2] In the Czech Republic Král has played within the system of HC Kometa Brno, and played 27 games with the professional club across two seasons, recording two assists. In 2017, Král was drafted in the second round, 78th overall, during the CHL Import Draft by the Spokane Chiefs. He started the 2017–18 season with HC Kometa Brno, but opted out of his contract four games into the season to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL).[3] He was signed by the Chiefs on 6 October 2017, and committed to play for the team during the 2017–18 season, marking the first time he would play outside of his native country.[4] During his first season in North America, Král put up 35 points in 54 games, second on team scoring for defencemen (behind only Ty Smith, who was also selected during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft).[5]
On 2 April 2020, Král was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[6] On 12 August, Král was assigned by the Maple Leafs to Czech second tier club, HC ZUBR Přerov, on loan until the commencement of the delayed 2020–21 North American season.[7]
Having appeared in two games with the Maple Leafs during the 2022–23 season, Král as a pending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by the club and was released as a free agent.[citation needed] Král opted to leave North America and was signed to a one-year contract with Finnish club, Lahti Pelicans of the Liiga, on 14 July 2023.[8]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Year
|
Team
|
Event
|
Result
|
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM
|
2015
|
Czech Republic
|
U17
|
7th
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
2016
|
Czech Republic
|
IH18
|
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2
|
2017
|
Czech Republic
|
U18
|
7th
|
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0
|
2018
|
Czech Republic
|
WJC
|
4th
|
7 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2
|
2019
|
Czech Republic
|
WJC
|
7th
|
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2
|
Junior totals
|
27 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
6
|
References
External links