Adam Klapka

Last updated

Adam Klapka
Adam Klapka Wranglers 2023.jpg
Klapka with the Calgary Wranglers in 2023
Born (2000-09-14) September 14, 2000 (age 23)
Prague, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Weight 236 lb (107 kg; 16 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Calgary Flames
Calgary Wranglers  (AHL)
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Adam Klapka (born September 14, 2000) is a Czech professional ice hockey right-wing currently playing for the Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Playing career

Junior

Klapka played two seasons of junior hockey with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where he was noted as a tough physical presence, and was regarded as having a goal scoring touch. [1] [2]

Professional

Klapka began his professional career with the HC Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga. He played one season with the club, splitting time between Tygři and their farm team, HC Benátky nad Jizerou of the Chance Liga. [2] [3] [4]

On May 16, 2022, the Calgary Flames signed Klapka to a two-year entry-level NHL contract. [2] [5] Klapka would impress during the Flames training camp and pre-season games, being one of the last players cut, and was called the best prospect at the Flames pre-season rookie camp. [1] [6] Klapka was assigned to the Flames top affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers of the AHL for the 2022–23 season. Klapka would initially struggle to score in the American League, only scoring three goals in the first half of the season, and spending most of his time on the fourth line. [7] However, Klapka would find his scoring touch towards the end of the season, scoring 10 goals in the final 26 games of the regular season, including his first career hat trick in the Wranglers home-ice finale. [7] [8] Klapka's impressive performance towards the end of his rookie season continued into the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, where he would score the series clinching goal in the second round to eliminate the Abbotsford Canucks. [7]

Playing style

Klapka is regarded for his impressive stature, standing at 6'8" (2.03m) and weighing in at 236 lbs (107 kg), potentially the largest player to ever play in the USHL. [2] [9] Due to this, he has been noted as a significant physical presence in games, but also as having a goal scorers touch. [1] [2] [6] [10] [11]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2017–18 HC Slavia Praha Czech.2030220—————
2018–19 HC Benátky nad Jizerou Czech.1 2242612—————
2019–20HC Benátky nad JizerouCzech.13051632—————
2019–20 Tri-City Storm USHL 831422—————
2020–21 Tri-City StormUSHL49129217330222
2021–22 HC Bílí Tygři Liberec ELH 446121872101342
2021–22HC Benátky nad JizerouCzech.116751245—————
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers AHL 601312258094044
2023–24 Calgary WranglersAHL6521254690625710
2023–24 Calgary Flames NHL 610119—————
NHL totals610119—————

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Gilbertson, Wes (September 30, 2022). "Who is Adam Klapka? Introducing the Flames' training-camp surprise". Calgary Sun.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Pankiw, Colton (May 17, 2022). "Flames Sign Free Agent Adam Klapka: Everything You Need to Know". The Hockey Writers.
  3. ↑ "Tidigare Bili Tygri Liberec-spelaren klar för spel i Kanada". Hockey Sverige (in Swedish). May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Adam Klapka". BÍLÍ TYGŘI LIBEREC (in Czech). Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ Gould, Mike (May 16, 2022). "Calgary Flames sign Czech forward Adam Klapka to two-year contract". FlamesNation.
  6. 1 2 Francis, Eric (September 28, 2022). "Flames Takeaways: Adam Klapka continues to impress in loss to Kraken". Sportsnet.
  7. 1 2 3 Gilbertson, Wes (May 7, 2023). "Adam Klapka coming up big for Wranglers in Calder Cup playoffs". National Post.
  8. ↑ "Adam Klapka's first AHL hat-trick leads Wranglers past Silver Knights". Calgary Herald. March 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Storm Add Forward Adam Klapka to Roster". Tri-City Storm. January 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ Gould, Mike (September 26, 2022). "A foot apart, Matthew Phillips and Adam Klapka are going head-to-head in camp competition". FlamesNation.
  11. ↑ Francis, Eric (September 24, 2022). "Flames' Elias Lindholm adjusting to life without old linemates". Sportsnet.
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