Opt-Out Deadline Passes, No NHL For Kubalík This Season

When Dominik Kubalík signed with Swiss club HC Ambrì-Piotta in early September, it included an opt-out clause in the event Kubalík came to an agreement with an NHL club before Dec. 15. That date has now passed, which means he is under contract with Ambrì the rest of the season, the National League club announced on Monday.

“I don’t think about it much – my agent will let me know if something is happening,” Kubalík said when asked about it at last weekend’s Swiss Ice Hockey Games, where he was playing for Czechia.

“I’m not fixated on that date,” he continued. “I’m here now and we’ll see what happens in a week, but I’m not thinking about it and constantly checking my phone. I’m a realist. Last season wasn’t ideal.”

That last part says a lot. Last season, Kubalík recorded 15 points in 74 games for the Ottawa Senators, a significant drop in production from the numbers he put up over four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, where he had 169 points in 292 NHL regular-season and playoff games.

As a result, no NHL team was willing to offer Kubalík a one-way contract last summer. It was speculated that he might have been approached about a two-way deal, but for many players, signing in Europe can be more financially lucrative and offer a more comfortable lifestyle than a two-way NHL deal.

Kubalík has 22 points in 28 games for Ambrì-Piotta this season, which leads the team and ranks 21st in the league. At the recently completed Swiss Ice Hockey Games, he scored two goals in Czechia’s 3-1 victory over Finland to open the tournament.