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Hockey fans love to cheer for a good underdog story and we have one brewing in Calgary right now with the emergence of Adam Klapka. The 6’8″ forward was signed as a 21-year-old free agent in May of 2022. He’s gone from playing for Liberec Bili Tygri HC in the Czech Extraliga to playing games in the NHL with the Calgary Flames last season.
On Monday, the Flames signed Klapka to a one year, two-way contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level. Both Klapka and the Flames hope this underdog story continues next season as he has the chance to once again prove that he can play at the NHL level.

Adam Klapka

Winger, shoots right
Born August 14th, 2000 (age 23)
6’8″, 235 pounds
Signed as a free agent in May 2022
Klapka is one of the more unique professional hockey players in North America. He has a combination of size, physicality, and skill that have made him a handful to contain at the AHL level. Klapka is hoping he can translate those skills to the NHL on a consistent basis starting in the 2024-25 season.
One thing you have to like about Klapka’s game is his the continuous improvement we’ve seen from his time in the Czech League to last season in the AHL. As a 21 year old in Czechia, Klapka put up six goals and 12 assists in 44 games in a league that is a slight notch below the AHL.
In his first year as a professional in North America with the Wranglers he scored 13 goals and 12 assists in 60 games. He drastically improved upon those numbers last season putting up 21 goals and 25 assists in 65 AHL games. That’s a 84% increase in offence from the 2022-23 season compared to the 2023-24 season. That development and improvement led to Klapka getting into six NHL games last season.
The giant winger has the potential to carve out a niche as a bottom six winger in the NHL if he can find a way to be more consistent with his physicality. When Klapka is on his game, he has the ability to be a physical force on the forecheck, a net front presence in the offensive zone, and chip in with a little offence every now and then. A great example of this was the final game of the Flames season against the San Jose Sharks when he scored his first NHL goal and got in his first NHL fight.
For some more insight into Klapka’s game, we got our very own Wranglers reporter, Paige Siewert, who has covered Klapka since arriving in Calgary, to give her thoughts on where Klapka’s game is at:
“Adam Klapka had his best year since joining the Flames organization last season. His confidence reached a peak and his swagger reflected in his game. His role felt more cemented and he really established his best way of contributing to the team. You can mostly catch him in the crease, using his big stature to block the view of the goaltender and it played dividends. He finished the regular season leading the team in points and tied for goals and even started bringing more of a physical game into his play. His time with the Flames this year really took him to another level and he took off in playoffs with his individual production. It feels like next year will be even better and I am confident his summer training has reflected that.”

Expectations for 2024-25

Klapka is one of the more intriguing players to watch heading into next season. Can he use the confidence and skills he has gained from his last two seasons in the AHL to push for full time duty with the Flames? My answer is “why not?”
He is likely going to get another look in the NHL at some point next season. It’s going to be on him to become a difference maker through pure physicality that Ryan Huska and the rest of the Flames coaching staff can’t take him out of the lineup. He has all the physical tools. Let’s see if he is able to put it all together heading into a borderline make or break year for the big man from Czechia.