By Luke Sims -
Former Minnesota Wild forward Kevin Fiala won MVP of the IIHF World Championship Tournament. Fiala played for the Swiss team and lost to Czechia in the gold medal game. Minnesota fans may have been focused on the former Wild star. However, they should have been watching former NHLer Ondrej Kase, who was playing for Czechia.
The Wild are in the market for a top-six winger. The Wild played Marcus Johansson in a top-six role last year, and after a disappointing second season with the Wild, the team is looking at other options.
Kase only played for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022-23. However, the veteran forward is eyeing a comeback in the NHL, and the Wild should give him a shot.
Kase has had a convoluted NHL career up to this point. He debuted with the Anaheim Ducks in 2016-17 but only played in 53 games and recorded 15 points. Kase had his best season with the Ducks in 2017-18, scoring 20 goals and 18 points in a 66-game campaign.
Anaheim traded him to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline during the 2019-20 season, but he only played nine games in two years with the team. In 2021-22, Kase signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Kase was productive in Toronto. The Czech forward had 27 points in 50 games in a depth role. Kase turned that into a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Hurricanes, which did not turn out well. Kase suffered injuries and only played one game in Carolina.
“The Carolina year wasn’t great,” said Kase. “I feel kind of bad for playing just one game in Carolina. They signed me. They were thinking I was good. I was good, but some things you can’t control.”
Concussions and the lingering complications from those concussions limited Kase after a promising season in Toronto. Kase returned home to play with his brother, David, in the Czech Extraliga. With unknown expectations and no NHL pressure, Kase dominated and finished third in the league, scoring 54 points in 48 games.
“I wasn’t sure how healthy I am, and all season was actually great,” Kase said. “I felt unbelievable. All injuries were done. I played with my brother. Even as kids, we wanted to always play together, and this was our chance. It was a great season. We lost in the semifinals, and I think for the team, it was pretty good.”
That success got the attention of the Czech national team for the IIHF Championships. Kase earned a spot on that roster with other NHLers and European pros. The 28-year-old forward showed the world he still has what it takes to play at a high level. During the tournament, Kase helped lead Czechia to the gold medal game, recording three goals and four points in 10 games.
The former seventh-round pick is free to sign with any NHL team ahead of next season. There were a plethora of scouts and assistant general managers at the IIHF Championships with eyes on Kase, who’s eyeing a return to the NHL.
“It’s still in my head, for sure,” said Kase. “I’m not sure after the championship what the situation will be. So we will see with my agent.”
Adding Kase to the current group of Wild forwards would give the team a right-handed forward, something they desperately need. Minnesota’s skill players are mostly left-handed, so getting a skilled righty can help their puck rotations and put them in better positions to score goals.
The Wild have a type, and Kase is kind of their type. Kase is a strong skater who battles hard for pucks. While he's not the biggest forward, Kase is decently sized at 6’0”, 187 lbs.
The biggest issue, while out of his control, is that he can’t stay on the ice.
In addition to the style fit, Kase would fit under the cap. His last NHL contract was a one-year, $1.5 million deal. A guy who has not played in the league for two years looking to make a comeback won’t command a huge salary.
Kase proved he still has what it takes to play in the league. There’s room for competition on the Wild, and Kase would fit right into their style. The Wild have a need, and Kase needs a home. It seems like a match to me.
All stats and data via HockeyDB and Elite Prospects unless otherwise noted.
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