Filip Král Explained

Filip Král
Birth Date:20 October 1999
Birth Place:Blansko, Czech Republic
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:172
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:Liiga
Team:Lahti Pelicans
Former Teams:HC Kometa Brno
Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft:149th overall
Draft Team:Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft Year:2018
Career Start:2016

Filip Král (born 20 October 1999) is a Czech professional ice hockey player for the Lahti Pelicans of the Liiga. He was drafted 149th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Král began playing hockey in his hometown of Blansko at the age of three.[2] In the Czech Republic Král has played within the system of HC Kometa Brno, and played 27 games with the professional club across two seasons, recording two assists. In 2017, Král was drafted in the second round, 78th overall, during the CHL Import Draft by the Spokane Chiefs. He started the 2017–18 season with HC Kometa Brno, but opted out of his contract four games into the season to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL).[3] He was signed by the Chiefs on 6 October 2017, and committed to play for the team during the 2017–18 season, marking the first time he would play outside of his native country.[4] During his first season in North America, Král put up 35 points in 54 games, second on team scoring for defencemen (behind only Ty Smith, who was also selected during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft).[5]

On 2 April 2020, Král was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs.[6] On 12 August, Král was assigned by the Maple Leafs to Czech second tier club, HC ZUBR Přerov, on loan until the commencement of the delayed 2020–21 North American season.[7]

Having appeared in two games with the Maple Leafs during the 2022–23 season, Král as a pending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by the club and was released as a free agent. Král opted to leave North America and was signed to a one-year contract with Finnish club, Lahti Pelicans of the Liiga, on 14 July 2023.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2016–17HC Kometa BrnoCzech.2013 4 6 10 106 3 7 10 2
2016–17HC Kometa BrnoELH23 0 2 2 25 0 0 0 0
2016–17SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.112 1 1 2 6
2017–18HC Kometa BrnoELH4 0 0 0 0
2017–18SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.13 0 0 0 2
2017–18Spokane ChiefsWHL54 9 26 35 245 0 0 0 0
2018–19Spokane ChiefsWHL47 10 26 36 1412 0 2 2 4
2019–20Spokane ChiefsWHL53 12 37 49 8
2020–21HC ZUBR PřerovCzech.17 2 8 10 4
2020–21HC Kometa BrnoELH48 6 15 21 129 1 5 6 4
2020–21Toronto MarliesAHL10 2 0 2 0
2021–22Toronto MarliesAHL58 3 18 21 24
2022–23Toronto MarliesAHL24 2 4 6 6
2022–23Toronto Maple LeafsNHL2 0 0 0 2
2023–24Lahti PelicansLiiga46 5 32 37 1017 1 7 8 8
ELH totals75 6 17 23 1414 1 5 6 4
NHL totals2 0 0 0 2

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2015Czech RepublicU177th5 0 0 0 0
2016Czech RepublicIH185 0 0 0 2
2017Czech RepublicU187th5 1 1 2 0
2018Czech RepublicWJC4th7 1 0 1 2
2019Czech RepublicWJC7th5 1 0 1 2
Junior totals27 3 1 4 6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs Select Filip Kral 149th Overall . Pension Plan Puppets . . 23 June 2018 . 23 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Blanenský rodák Filip Král má namířeno do NHL . Město Blansko . 6 June 2018 . 23 June 2018 . Czech.
  3. Web site: Punčochář. Jiří. Kometě odchází za oceán velký talent. Obránce Král jde zkusit WHL . iSport.cz . 3 October 2017 . 23 June 2018 . Czech.
  4. Web site: Czech Defenseman Filip Kral Headed to Spokane . Western Hockey League . Canadian Hockey League . 6 October 2017 . 23 June 2018.
  5. Web site: Murray. Robert. Growing the Game's Best Talent: Kristian Reichel and Filip Kral . Western Hockey League . Canadian Hockey League . 20 June 2018 . 23 June 2018.
  6. Web site: Maple Leafs sign Kral and Rubins to entry-level contracts . . 2 April 2020 . 2 April 2020 .
  7. Web site: Maple Leafs loan Kral and Lindgren . . . 12 August 2020 . 12 August 2020.
  8. Web site: NHL defenseman Filip Kral signs with Pelicans . . 14 July 2023 . 14 July 2023 . Finnish.