Los Angels Kings sign Jakub Dvorak to entry-level contract

The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Jakub Dvorak to a three-year, entry-level contract worth $900,000 per season.

The Kings selected the 18-year-old with the 54th pick in the 2023 NHL Draft last month. Dvorak spent the season with Bill Tygri Liberec in the top men’s league in Czechia, registering two assists.

Dvorak was also a force internationally, captaining Czechia’s U-18 team and recording three points in five games at the U-18 World Championship. Dvorak also played a handful of games with Czechia U-20 team, his first experience with the team.

A big, physical defender, Dvorak stands tall at 6-foot-5 and 209 pounds. He’s mobile for his size, with quick skating and smart positional play in his own zone. But when it comes to Dvorak, it’s mostly his physical game that stands out the most, and he could play a solid third-pairing role in the NHL one day.

According to CapFriendly, the Kings are currently $751,667 over the salary cap with no RFAs still to sign. The team has a solid young defensive prospect pool, with Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke being the leading pieces. Los Angeles was knocked out of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers for the second consecutive year, but their 47 wins was their most since 2015-16.