Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of the NHL
- Name: Petr Kalus
- Position: LW
- Shoots: Left
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 192 lbs
- Birthdate: 1987-06-29
- Eligible for Draft: 2005
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Acquired: Trade with Boston, 2007
- Playing In: Pro
Petr Kalus
Prospect Grade: 6.5 D (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2004-05: Kalus had bad luck right at the start of the season. After first few games he got sick and was out more than two weeks. He struggled to catch up to game speed, but during winter he started to score goals and this boast his confidence. He became more consistent, moved to first line in Vitkovice juniors and became one of the leaders. He played well for the national team. At the U-18 WJC he played mostly on the third line, trying to create offense every shift but also responsibly returning to his own zone.
Kalus wanted to leave to play in CHL in 2004-05, but went unselected in the Import Draft. His determination to leave persisted and he even considered going to the USHL. At the end he decided to stay in Vitkovice for another season. In this year's Import Draft he was picked by Regina.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round of the 2005 entry draft
2005-06: Kalus played his first season in North America with the Regina Pats following the 2005 draft and a strong showing at his first training camp with the Bruins. He completed his 60-game season tied as the top scorer for the Pats at 58 total points, and was second in scoring among rookies in the WHL. Kalus was also tops among rookies with 15 power-play goals, and finished ninth in the league for goals scored with 36.
2006-07: After a slow start and then a knee injury that kept him out of action, Kalus came on very strong in his rookie AHL campaign with the Providence Bruins. His 13 goals and 17 assists in 43 games came mostly in the second half of the season and it earned him a call up to Boston to finish their season. In just nine games Kalus made an impressive mark with four goals -- including a goal on each of his first three NHL shots -- and an assist.
2007-08: After being acquired by Minnesota in a trade that sent Manny Fernandez to Boston, hopes were high and there was talk in training camp of putting Kalus on a line with Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra. Kalus looked good in pre-season, but for some reason found himself unable to finish off some excellent scoring opportunities and in the end he was sent down to Houston to start the season. Kalus struggled to adjust to the discipline and defensive style of new Aeros coach Kevin Constantine and he often found himself in the doghouse. His point totals suffered with a mere eight goals and 10 assists in 58 games. To add insult to injury, Kalus left the Aeros in the spring to play in the World Championships for the Czech Republic, only to end up not being selected to the roster.
Talent Analysis
Kalus is a slick and agile skater with above-average speed and quickness and a shifty change of pace. A nifty puck handler who can maneuver in traffic, he uses his good vision to make timely decisions with the puck, and can also finish. His best shot is his wrist shot, which has a quick release and good accuracy. A valuable asset to the power play units, Kalus is a threat in one-on-one situations.
Kalus plays with a bit of a nasty edge that sometimes gets the better of him and he has to display a bigger commitment to the defensive aspect of the game. When his intensity drops off sometimes, he tends to just circle in the neutral zone and wander from his defensive responsibilities.
Future
Kalus has the talent to be a scoring line NHL power forward, but perhaps not the desire.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: August, 27th 2010
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