Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman thinks he’s found a fit for his team’s top-nine forward group in Dominik Kubalik.
Bowman said he plans to sign Kubalik after he plays for the Czech Republic at the World Championship and expects him to play in the NHL next season, reports Scott Powers of The Athletic.
The Blackhawks acquired the 23-year-old Czech-born left winger in January from the Kings in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in this year’s NHL draft. Los Angeles drafted him in the seventh round in 2013, and offered him a contract as recently as October 2017 but he never signed it.
Bowman likes Kubalik’s size (6-foot-2, 179 pounds), handles, skating and play-making ability.
Kubalik led Switzerland’s top league, National League, in scoring this season with 57 points and was third in goals with 25. He added a goal and five assists in five playoff games for HC Amri-Piotta.
Kubalik also paced the Czech Republic team in scoring with eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight games at last year’s World Championship. This year’s tournament runs from May 10-26 in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia.