The Gatineau Olympiques announced on Twitter/X today that they have signed Czech left winger Lukas Kral, joining Lightning prospect Jan Golicic as the team's two imports.
Kral, 18, last played with the Prince Albert Raiders this past season playing in three games (0+0) with the team before getting cut in mid-October in favour of the return of Krysztof Macias from the AHL and the newly acquired defenseman Vojtech Vochvest.
Before joining the Raiders this September, Kral had previously played with the Spokane Chiefs in the 2023-24 season, scoring 16 points (8+8) over 43 games with the team, and was the team's sixth overall pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft.
It's safe to say that the move to North America hasn't been too kind to the once-promising left winger who departed Czechia for the WHL in 2023 on the back of a 30 point (13+17) in the Czech U-20 league with Mountfield Jr.
However two things are clear from this move.
Firstly, Kral believes he has what it takes to stay in North America and seize the opportunity of playing here to better his chances at getting pro looks in the future.
Secondly, the Gatineau Olympiques -- a team who can take all the help they can get at this point -- believe he has what it takes to succeed in the CHL