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Adam Klapka

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Adam Klapka
Klapka with the Calgary Wranglers in 2023
Born (2000-09-14) 14 September 2000 (age 24)
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 Calgary Flames
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Adam Klapka (born 14 September 2000) is a Czech professional ice hockey right wing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

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Junior

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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

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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 16 May 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]

On 18 January 2024, Klapka would be recalled to the Flames,[9] making his NHL debut on 21 January, against the Edmonton Oilers.[10] Klapka appeared in four games with the team before being reassigned to the Wranglers on 27 January.[11][12] Later in the season, on 15 April, Klapka would again be recalled to the Flames for the final two games of the season,[13] scoring his first goal during the season finale against the San Jose Sharks on 18 April.[14]

On 12 August, Klapka signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the Flames, worth $775,000 USD at the NHL level.[15]

Playing style

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Klapka is regarded for his impressive stature, standing at 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 m) and weighing in at 236 pounds (107 kg), potentially the largest player to ever play in the USHL.[2][16] 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][17][18]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 HC Slavia Praha Czech.20 3 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
2018–19 HC Benátky nad Jizerou Czech.1 22 4 2 6 12 — — — — —
2019–20 HC Benátky nad Jizerou Czech.1 30 5 1 6 32 — — — — —
2019–20 Tri-City Storm USHL 8 3 1 4 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Tri-City Storm USHL 49 12 9 21 73 3 0 2 2 2
2021–22 HC Bílí Tygři Liberec ELH 44 6 12 18 72 10 1 3 4 2
2021–22 HC Benátky nad Jizerou Czech.1 16 7 5 12 45 — — — — —
2022–23 Calgary Wranglers AHL 60 13 12 25 80 9 4 0 4 4
2023–24 Calgary Wranglers AHL 65 21 25 46 90 6 2 5 7 10
2023–24 Calgary Flames NHL 6 1 0 1 19 — — — — —
2024–25 Calgary Flames NHL 31 6 4 10 29 — — — — —
2024–25 Calgary Wranglers AHL 33 14 12 26 50 1 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 37 7 4 11 48 — — — — —

References

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  1. ^ a b c Gilbertson, Wes (September 30, 2022). "Who is Adam Klapka? Introducing the Flames' training-camp surprise". Calgary Sun.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b Francis, Eric (September 28, 2022). "Flames Takeaways: Adam Klapka continues to impress in loss to Kraken". Sportsnet.
  7. ^ a b c 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. ^ Austin, Daniel (January 18, 2024). "Flames get injection of size with Adam Klapka call-up". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (January 20, 2024). "'I'm living my dream': Flames' call-up Adam Klapka completes climb to NHL". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Austin, Daniel (March 10, 2024). "After first eye-opening call-up, Adam Klapka working tirelessly to earn another shot with Flames". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  12. ^ "Pospisil Activated, Trio Assigned To Wranglers". Calgary Flames. January 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Flames Recall Adam Klapka From Wranglers". Calgary Flames. April 15, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (April 18, 2024). "Klapka scores, Weegar sets record as Flames conclude season with blowout win". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Austin, Daniel (August 12, 2024). "Flames re-sign Adam Klapka, Yan Kuznetsov". Calgary Herald. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  16. ^ "Storm Add Forward Adam Klapka to Roster". Tri-City Storm. January 31, 2020.
  17. ^ Gould, Mike (September 26, 2022). "A foot apart, Matthew Phillips and Adam Klapka are going head-to-head in camp competition". FlamesNation.
  18. ^ Francis, Eric (September 24, 2022). "Flames' Elias Lindholm adjusting to life without old linemates". Sportsnet.
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