Eduard Šalé Explained

Eduard Šalé
Birth Date:2005 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Brno, Czech Republic
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:168
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Seattle Kraken
Prospect Team:Coachella Valley Firebirds
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:HC Kometa Brno
Draft:20th overall
Draft Year:2023
Draft Team:Seattle Kraken
Career Start:2021

Eduard Šalé (born 10 March 2005) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 20th overall by the Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.[1] [2]

Playing career

Šalé played as a youth within hometown club, HC Kometa Brno, first appearing as a 13 year-old at the under-16 level. During the 2020–21 season, Šalé having appeared with the under-20 team, he briefly left Brno and made seven appearances at the Finnish under-18 SM-sarja competition with Ilves.[3]

Returning to Brno, Šalé made his senior professional debut in the Czech Extraliga during the 2021–22 season, finishing with two goals and three assists in 10 regular season games. Eligible for major junior ice hockey in North America, Šalé was selected in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2022 CHL Import Draft by the Barrie Colts.[4]

Continuing his tenure with Brno, Šalé, in his first full professional season in 2022–23, managed seven goals and seven assists through 43 regular season games.

Touted as a potential first-round pick, he was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kraken on 17 July 2023.[5] Šalé started the 2023–24 season with the Colts, although he was eventually traded to the Kitchener Rangers.[6]

International play

Šalé first represented Czech national under-18 team at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and in the following year he was recognised as one of the top ranked stars in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.[7]

Šalé won a silver medal with the Czech national junior team at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[8] Šalé won a bronze medal the following year, in a comeback win that saw Team Czechia overcome a 5–2 deficit.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2020–21 HC Kometa BrnoCzech U208 4 2 6 0
2021–22HC Kometa BrnoCzech U2039 42 47 89 565 5 5 10 0
2021–22HC Kometa BrnoELH10 2 1 3 2
2022–23HC Kometa BrnoELH43 7 7 14 26 0 0 0 0
2023–24Barrie ColtsOHL25 7 13 20 6
2023–24Kitchener RangersOHL24 8 10 18 210 5 7 12 8
ELH totals53 9 8 17 46 0 0 0 0

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2021Czech RepublicHG186th4 1 2 3 2
2022Czech RepublicU184th6 1 8 9 0
2022Czech RepublicHG184th5 4 2 6 0
2023Czech RepublicWJC7 1 5 6 2
2024Czech RepublicWJC7 3 4 7 0
Junior totals29 10 21 31 4

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burke . JD . Eduard Šalé has shown "he's one of those names" for a stacked 2023 NHL Draft with his play at U18s . eprinkside . 19 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Vickers. Aaron. Sale Is Central Europe's Most Intriguing Draft Talent, But He's Not Alone . 8 November 2022 . NHL Entry Draft . 19 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Eduard Sale to appear with junior club . . gmghockey . 16 November 2020 . 16 November 2020 . Finnish.
  4. Web site: What's next for 2023 Kraken first-round pick Eduard Sale . . 28 June 2023 . 28 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Kraken sign Eduard Sale to entry-level contract . . . 17 July 2023 . 17 July 2023 .
  6. News: Eduard Sale & Olivier Savard Traded to the Kitchener Rangers in Exchange for Kyle Morey, Blair Scott, & Eight Draft Picks . 2024-03-14 . The Hockey News Ontario Hockey League . en.
  7. Web site: Ferrari. Tony. Hlinka Gretzky Cup 3 Stars: Šalé, Järventie, and Erliden Star on Day 2 . The Hockey News . 19 January 2023.
  8. Web site: Arif . Hafsa . From playing games to chasing planes: World Juniors players head home . 6 January 2023 . CTV News . 19 January 2023.
  9. Web site: Staff . TSN . Czechs score four late in the third to claim bronze over Finland at World Juniors . 5 January 2024 . TSN . 5 January 2024.