Flames Sign D Jakub Nakladal To ELC (1 Year)

Once again, it appears that Brad Treliving has gotten his man.

The Calgary Flames continue to bolster their group of right-handed defenders, signing Czech native Jakub Nakladal to an entry-level contract. Because of Nakladal’s age (27), it’s a one-year, two-way deal.

He joins Kenney Morrison and Dennis Wideman (and Deryk Engelland) as right-handed defenders with valid contracts for 2015-16.

Never drafted by an NHL club, Nakladal instead turned pro in the Czech Extraliga, playing his hometown Pardubice HC club. He eventually stretched his legs a bit, playing parts of four seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League with Ufa Salavat Yulaev, Spartak Moscow and Prague Lev. He spent last season with TPS Turku of SM-Liiga, and recently represented the Czech Republic in the World Hockey Championship for the third time in four years.

He’s right-handed. He’s not gigantic at 6’2″ and 205 pounds, but he’s not exactly Kris Russell (in terms of tinyness). He’s a defense-first player, we’re told, and that could be useful for the Flames going forward.