It is now August and the Toronto Maple Leafs breaking news is bleak at best, but thanks to the Edmonton Oil Kings, fans have something to catch their attention.
The Toronto Maple Leafs fifth round pick from this past NHL Entry Draft Miroslav Holinka has decided to sign with the Oil Kings and join the Western Hockey Leauge.
Holinka was selected 14th overall this past June by Edmonton in the CHL Import Draft and then weeks later was selected by the Maple Leafs 151st overall in the NHL Entry Draft.
The Komeriz, Czechia native spent his 2023-24 season playing primarily in his nations junior league where he collected 20 goals and 41 points in 29 games with HC Oceláři Třinec. He did get into 16 games with the men's team in the same organization where he played with former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Richard Panik.
HC Oceláři Třinec is known as the top hockey organization in the Czechia Extraliga league as they won five straight championships in the nations highest level of hockey.
Along with playing with Třinec at two levels last season, Holinka also represented his country at the international level for the U19 and 20 teams, but did not play at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
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Most recently, Holinka suited up for his country's U20 team at a tournament in Finland in late July where he collected three goals and four points in three games, where played alongside upcoming Oil Kings teammate Adam Jecho.
Oil Kings president Kirt Hill was quoted in saying “Since the NHL Draft, Miroslav has continued to impress at Maple Leafs Development Camp, and the Summer World Junior Showcase in Europe. We look forward to him joining our club in early September and adding his offensive abilities and instincts to our forward group.”
The Oil Kings are coming off consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs including finishing with a horrendous 10-54-4 record in 2022-23. With the addition of Holinka, along with three other NHL draft picks Jecho (St. Louis), Parker Alcos (Vancouver) and Gracyn Sawchyn (Florida) the franchise will be looking to back the playoffs.
While having Holinka playing in Edmonton isn't as convenient as having him playing closer to Toronto such as Ben Danford in Oshawa or Sam McCue in Owen Sound, he is just a five hour drive from where 2023 prospect Noah Chadwick is playing in Lethbridge.