David Sklenička Explained

David Sklenička
Birth Date:8 September 1996
Birth Place:Rakovník, Czech Republic
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:180
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NL
Team:Lausanne HC
Former Teams:Jokerit
HC Plzeň
Laval Rocket
Oulun Kärpät
Brynäs IF
Barys Astana
Ntl Team:CZE
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2013

David Sklenička (born 8 September 1996) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with Lausanne HC in the National League (NL).

Playing career

Sklenička made his professional debut playing in Czech Extraliga with HC Plzeň during the 2014–15 Czech Extraliga season as an 18-year old.[1]

In the 2017–18 season, Sklenička played in 49 games on the blueline for Plzeň, registering 14 points and a plus-minus +17 rating. The 21-year-old added one goal and one assist in 10 playoff games.

On May 28, 2018, Sklenička as an undrafted free agent, signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL).[2]

Approaching the final year of his contract with the Canadiens in the 2019–20 season, Sklenička continued his tenure with American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket. After just seven games through the opening months of the season with the Rocket and gaging his chance to appear in the NHL limited, Sklenička was placed on unconditional waivers by the Canadiens and mutually released from his contract on 7 December 2019.[3] On 12 December 2019, he was signed for the remainder of the season to join Finnish club, Jokerit, of the KHL.[4]

After a lone campaign with Brynäs IF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in the 2022–23 season, Sklenička continued his journeyman career in signing a one-year contract with Kazakh based club, Barys Astana of the KHL, on 1 July 2023.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2012–13Rytíři KladnoCZE U184328104030002
2013–14HC Medvědi Beroun 1933CZE.24201116
2014–15HC Škoda PlzeňCZE U202016738401116
2014–15HC Škoda PlzeňELH6000820002
2014–15HC Rebel Havlíčkův BrodCZE.23111218
2015–16HC Škoda PlzeňCZE U2021012
2015–16HC Škoda PlzeňELH4635832100226
2015–16 Czech 2. Liga season2015–16HC KlatovyCZE.310224
2016–17HC Škoda PlzeňELH4745924110114
2017–18HC Škoda PlzeňELH493111422101126
2018–19Laval RocketAHL6836950
2019–20Laval RocketAHL71232
2019–20JokeritKHL252351261122
2020–21JokeritKHL51710172640002
2021–22JokeritKHL45591434
2021–22KärpätLiiga90331670220
2022–23Brynäs IFSHL507243122
2023–24Barys AstanaKHL628253340
ELH totals148102131863314518
KHL totals183224769112101124

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2016Czech RepublicWJC5th51012
2018Czech RepublicWC7th80222
2019Czech Republic WC4th90112
2021Czech Republic WC7th80114
2022Czech RepublicOG9th40000
2022Czech Republic WC100112
Junior totals 51012
Senior totals 3905510

Notes and References

  1. Web site: hrac › David Sklenička . hcskoda.cz. Czech. 20 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Braverman. Dan. Canadiens agree to terms with David Sklenicka and Michal Moravcik. NHL.com. 28 May 2018. 28 May 2018.
  3. Web site: Contract termination for David Sklenicka . . 7 December 2019 . 7 December 2019.
  4. Web site: Jokerit add depth to Defense . . Finnish . 12 December 2019 . 12 December 2019.
  5. Web site: David Sklenicka signs contract with Barys . . 1 July 2023 . 1 July 2023 . KK .