The Blackhawks signed right wing Matej Chalupa (MAW-tay huh-LOO-puh) to a two-year, $1,850,00 contract Friday. The contract begins during the 2020-21 season.
Pavel Ryšavy of Sport Daily in the Czech Republic and Scott Powers of The Athletic first reported the news.
The 21-year-old Chalupa had seven goals and 17 assists in 50 games this past season with HK Hradec Kralove in Czech Extraliga, the Czech Republic’s top league. The 6-foot-2, 194 pound left-handed shot also had five goals and two assists in 12 games during HK Hradec Kralove’s surprising run to the Champions Hockey League final, where they fell 3-1 to Swedish powerhouse Frölunda HC.
Chalupa was teammates with former Blackhawks forward Radek Smolenak this past season and teammates with current Blackhawks right wing Dominik Kubalik at HC Plzen during the 2016-17 season.
Here’s a thread of some Matej Chalupa highlights from his play in the Champions Hockey League. #Blackhawks: pic.twitter.com/R495HRWbNs
— Brandon Cain (@brandonmcain) May 29, 2020