x

Already member? Login first!

Comments / New

Report: Blackhawks among 3 finalists to sign Czech defenseman Jakub Nakladal

The Chicago Blackhawks are among at least three NHL teams perusing Czech defenseman Jakub Nakladal.

The Hawks, Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes are among the finalists to sign Nakladal, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Nakladal, 27, tallied five assists in 10 games for the Czech Republic during this year’s IIHF World Championships. He has registered 15 points in 50 games for TPS Turku of the Finnish Elite League this season. It was the first time since 2010-11, he played in more than 40 games.

Prior to playing in Finland, Nakladal played for three KHL teams: Ufa Salavat Yulayev, Moscow Spartak and HC Lev Praha in four seasons, and spent six seasons with Pardubice HC in the Czech league. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound blue liner, played in more than 40 games in half of his time with Pardubice HC.

Nakladal is a Pardubice, Czech Republic native – the hometown of Hockey Hall of Famer and former Hawks goaltender Dominik Hasek and Dallas Stars forward Ales Hemsky.

In 328 professional games, the right-handed shooting Nakladal has posted 21 goals and 78 assists, 306 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating. Eliteprospects describes him as, “a defensive defenseman who is good around his own net. Excels on the penalty kill. Has a hard shot.”

Follow Second City Hockey on Twitter at @2ndCityHockey and Like us on Facebook. You can follow Brandon Cain on Twitter at @BrandonMCain.

Talking Points