Dominik Kubalík

Dominik Kubalík (born on August 21, 1995 in Plzeň) is a Czech professional ice hockey left/right winger currently playing with the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. He was selected in the seventh round (191st overall) by the Los Angeles Kings during the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

His older brother is Tomáš Kubalík.

Club career
Kubalík began his junior career with the HC Plzeň 1929 organisation. He made his senior debut playing 8 games with the HC Plzeň of the Tipsport Extraliga during the 2011-12 season. In this season, he also played 20 regular season games and 2 play-off games with the HC Plzeň 1929 under-18 team and 24 regular season games and 2 play-off games with the HC Plzeň 1929 under-20 team.

Kubalík spent the 2012-13 season with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He scored 34 points in 67 regular season games and 6 points in 9 play-off games.

Kubalík returned to the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL for the 2013-14 season. On January 10, 2014, after 36 games played, Kubalík (along with two second-round draft picks) was traded to the Kitchener Rangers in exchange for Radek Faksa. He finished there the season with 23 games played.

On April 8, 2014, Kubalík returned to the HC Plzeň (formerly HC Plzeň 1929) of the Tipsport Extraliga. In the 2014-15 season played Kubalík 16 regular season games and 4 play-off games with the HC Plzeň under-20 team, 35 regular season games and 4 play-off games with the HC Plzeň of the Tipsport Extraliga, 4 games on loan with the HC Havlíčkův Brod of the 1. Liga and 2 games on loan with the HC Klatovy of the 2. Liga.

Next two seasons spent Kubalík with the HC Plzeň of the Tipsport Extraliga. In the 2015-16 season, Kubalík became the best goal-scorer (25) and also scored most powerplay goals (11) in the Tipsport Extraliga. In the 2016-17 season, he was again scored most goals (29) and most powerplay goals (11) in the Tipsport Extraliga.

On August 25, 2017, Kubalík signed a three-year contract with the HC Ambrì-Piotta of the NL. He split the 2017-18 season between HC Ambrì-Piotta (25 regular season games and 10 relegation games played) and HC Plzeň of the Tipsport Extraliga (while on loan) (20 games played).

On January 24, 2019, Kubalík's NHL rights were traded from Los Angeles Kings to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick. He finished the 2018-19 season with 57 points in 50 regular season games and 6 points in 5 play-off games, and was named the NL Media Most Valuable Player, NL Media Best Forward, NL Most Valuable Player and made it into the NL Media All-Star Team as he scored most points (57) in the NL.

On May 29, 2019, the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL signed Kubalík to a one-year, $925,000 contract.

On October 10, 2019, Kubalík scored his first career NHL goal in a 5-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks. On February 27, 2020, Kubalík recorded his first career NHL hat-trick in a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. All 3 of Kubalík's goals came in the third period. He finished the regular season with 30 goals and 16 assists for 46 points in 68 games. In January 2020, he was named the NHL Rookie of the Month. On July 15, 2020, Kubalík was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy (alongside Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar), which is awarded to the league's best first-year player. He did not win the trophy but was still selected into the NHL All-Rookie Team. The Chicago Blackhawks met the Edmonton Oilers in the 2020 Qualifying Round. In Game 1 of the series, Kubalík recorded 2 goals and 3 assists in a 6-4 win. His 5 points were the most scored in an NHL postseason debut in NHL history. Kubalík is currently signed with the Chicago Blackhawks until the end of the 2021-22 season.

International career
Kubalík played with the Czech National Team at the 2013 World U18 Championship, captained the Czech team at the 2015 World Junior Championship and then played at the 2018 Olympics and at the 2018 and 2019 World Championship s (being selected one of the top 3 players on the Czech team at the 2018 tournament).