Dvo-Rak ‘Em! Introducing Kings 2023 second-round draft pick Jakub Dvorak

For many players selected early in the NHL Draft, their first interactions with their new NHL club comes on the draft floor.

Jakub Dvorak didn’t have that in-person draft experience, so he’s getting it all first-hand here this week at development camp. For a player from Czechia, thousands of miles away from where the draft was held in Nashville, making that trek was a lot to ask. The 18-year-old blueliner spent the day at home, celebrating with family and friends.

“Before the draft, we discussed coming over with my agency, but we thought it would be better to stay home and be with family,” Dvorak said of his draft day. “Coming from Europe to the US, it’s always a long flight, so with jet lag and everything, it’s not always easy for us. I was with my family and I had the opportunity to share the moment with them, it was an amazing day and I’ll never forget it.”

Now that he’s here, he’s taking in his first development camp with the organization in stride.

Dvorak and the other members of the 2023 NHL Draft Class, who we spoke with HERE yesterday, are skating in their first organized activities as a member of the organization. It’s been a great experience so far, as he’s had the chance to work with specialized defensive coaches and participate in scrimmage settings.

“It was great to see all the guys we have here, how they work and how they play on the ice,” Dvorak detailed. “It’s a great experience and I’m looking forward to the next days.”

It’s hard to watch Dvorak on the ice and not notice exactly why the LA Kings drafted him last week in Nashville.

Bit, lengthy and athletic, with a long reach and skating ability that stands out for a player of his size. The Kings didn’t draft Dvorak to be an offensive superstar or a point producer at the next level. Dvorak projects as a defenseman who provides a reliable game, with the ability to take care of his own end first and foremost and he knows exactly who he is.

“[The Kings] drafted a big guy and I try to play a reliable game,” he said of himself. “I’m more specialized to defense, I’m more of a defensive defenseman, but I do try to be offensive as much as I can and support the rush.”

A lot of the same things Mark Yannetti mentioned back in Nashville after Day 2 of the NHL Draft.

Yannetti spoke about Dvorak’s size and defensive acumen, but also how he has a crisp first pass and skates well for his size, which enables him to hit second reads when the easy play isn’t there.

“He’s got to work on the offensive part of the game, but that’s not really what we grabbed him for,” Yannetti said. “The way he moves the puck, he can transport it with his feet, he can make quick, first-option reads and he can use his feet to get himself a little bit of time maybe a second, so there is some second option sort in his game. Although that first option is his primary thing, there is enough sense and game with the puck that he can find second options. He’ll kill penalties all day long as the NHL level, he just has to get a little more physical.”

In seeing him on the ice over the past couple of days, Matt Greene of the player development staff pointed out many of the same things.

The Kings like the blend of size and skating ability, with other traits coming out here during his first week. Overall, Dvorak has made an impact on the staff here in LA.

“Great skill, great skillset, a really good grasp of English, we called him right away there and it was awesome, great to see him take the initiative with that,” Greene said. “Big body, skates really well, great shot, he’s been good in the games. He’s been really impressive, it’s a good pick.”

Now, comes the transition from drafted player to developing player and that’s where this week comes in.

Some of the things that Yannetti mentioned are things that the development team here with the Knigs will work with Dvorak and the rest of the group on this week. Others, though, are more advanced than this week brings along. The Player Development staff in Los Angeles regularly refers to a week like this as an opportunity to get back to basics with younger players.

It’s not about teaching a player how the Kings kill penalties, but developing raw skills that can be applied in those situations when he eventually reaches the AHL or NHL levels. Dvorak is one of the youngest players at camp this week and that puts him mostly in an assessment phase for the staff.

“We didn’t say a lot to him, I think we’re still kind of in the assessment phase with him,” Sean O’Donnell of the Player Development Staff said. “He’s raw, he’s big, he moves well and he’s 18, so we noticed some things today, just making sure you’re athletic, every little thing is important.”

The word assessment is key, because for those who are paid by the Kings to develop players, they’re seeing the group of five 2023 draft picks for the first time this week. The assessment phase is key, because it’s setting up their development course free of habits. If you look at some of the higher selected players in their first development camps compared to their second, we’ve seen noticeable improvements in their play and we’ve heard about the strides they’ve taken from the development staff that’s spoken after days.

O’Donnell noted that Dvorak’s English and communication skills are excellent, which was evident when talking to him following a scrimmage. Not every 18-year-old kid coming over from Europe has that high level of communication, which helps to make adjustments more similar.

“We’re still at that phase where we’re just kind of just watching the guys, but he’s speaks very good English, as you guys probably know, and he’s very open to learning,” O’Donnell added. “We’re excited to have him.”

Dvorak highlighted the relationships he’s built here over the first few days as being strong, both with coaches and teammates.

There’s a wide array of instructors on the ice this week to help players like Dvorak, and others, as they look to build and grow their respective games. As O’Donnell mentioned, he’s a player who is willing to learn and take in information.

“I know most of the coaching stuff and I met a a lot of the guys here, I heard that the coaching was good here in LA,” Dvorak said of the staff. “Great to have this group of [coaches] here in LA.”

As he looks forward to the upcoming season, it appears as if another campaign overseas is in his future. Dvorak has not yet signed an entry-level contract, though there is plenty of time for that to come. He played professional hockey in Czechia for the bulk of last season, around time with the Czech National Team at the U-18 and U-20 levels, which is a good place to be. He’ll look to expand his role with Liberec, but playing against professionals at 18, 19 years of age is a good thing regardless. He’ll get the opportunity to test himself in those situations, with the hopes that his progress this week helps him along the way.