OFFICIAL: Penguins signs 24-year-old DM worth $775,000
Defenseman Filip Kral was signed by the Penguins on Tuesday to a one-year, two-way contract that would pay him $775,000 in the NHL.
Kral, a 24-year-old left-handed shooter from Blansko, Czechia, is 6-foot-2 and weighs 198 pounds. When his contract expires in the summer of next year, he will become a restricted free agent and will need waivers to be reassigned to the minors.
Kral was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2018 NBA Draft by general manager Kyle Dubas’ first draft class in Toronto. He spent two complete seasons as a member of the Maple Leafs’ roster. He played with the Marlies of the AHL for the whole 2021–22 season, tallying three goals and eighteen assists in 58 contests. During the 2022–23 season, he made his NHL debut, going scoreless in two games. He played in the AHL for the remainder of the season, tallying two goals and four points in 24 contests.
When Kral was about to become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2023 due to Dubas’s dismissal as general manager of the Maple Leafs, new general manager Brad Treliving decided not to issue a qualifying offer, allowing Kral to become an unrestricted free agent. Kral joined with the Pelicans of the top Finnish league after leaving North America. With five goals and 32 assists in 46 games, Kral led his club’s defensemen and ended fourth in the team scoring standings. With a plus-28 plus/minus, he took up the league’s Matti Keinonen Trophy for top plus/minus.
🚨 Aijaijai, mitä NAMUSTELUA! Filip Kral viimeistelee @PelicansFi:n kauniin hyökkyskuvion. 😮💨🍬
📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga #PelicansFi pic.twitter.com/UVa2aUH6jD
— Liiga (@smliiga) January 6, 2024
🚨 Filip Kral lataa @PelicansFi:n takaisin johtoon! 👏
Ryan Laschille samalla illan toinen ykkössyöttö. 🍏
📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga #PelicansFi pic.twitter.com/eHdhvbS2Ih
— Liiga (@smliiga) January 10, 2024
When Kral signed a contract with the Pelicans, Janne Laukkanen, the sports director of the organization, described him as “an offensive defender who is skilled with the puck and brings more expertise especially to our special teams play.” According to Kral, he is a “two-way defenseman who can play with the puck without running from confined spaces.” On the rink and in the locker room, I’m a cool, collected man.”
Kral played in the top Czech league with HC Kometa Brno and the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs before to relocating to North America in 2021. In 2017, he and Brno won the league championship.
