The Wolf Pack have announced that they are adding Tomas Kundratek, a third-round selection (90th overall) of the Rangers’ in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.
Kundratek, who’s been playing for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, is a 19-year-old native of Prerov, Czech Republic. The defenseman skated in 51 games with Medicine Hat this season and had four goals and 19 assists for 23 points, along with 63 penalty minutes and a +8. The 6-2, 192-pounder tied for second among team defensemen in assists. In 11 postseason games, Kundratek contributed six assists, which tied him for third on the team in helpers and was good for second among Tiger blueliners in points and assists.
Jess Rubinstein, who has seen Kundratek play all season and covers him regularly for The Prospect Park, tells Howlings that, “He (Kundratek) likes to play a physical game (favorite NHL’er is Dion Phaneuf of the Flames), has a nice low accurate shot from the point that one wishes he would use more often. Kundratek lost the early part of the season due to a wrist injury which set his offensive game back. He had 6 assists playing for the Czech Republic in the World Under 20 championships where he was a teammate of Pack defenseman David Stich.
Played for Willie Desjardins (who coached Michael Sauer) in the WHL and was used on all special teams with the Medicine Hat Tigers, where he finished with 4g-19a-23pts in regular season, 0g-5a-5pts in playoffs.
Of all the Ranger defensive prospects, Kundratek is actually the most ideal for John Tortorella's system as he is the only real two-way defender. Kundratek needs to improve his consistency and control his desire to make plays in his defensive end (sometimes likes to wander).
At just 19, he already signed a Rangers contract. It’ll be hard for him to be a factor for the Wolf Pack at this point in the season unless it is spot duty and still has some maturing to do. Kundratek should be playing for Hartford next season if he gets a good off-season of work in this summer.”
For more information on this and any Rangers prospect in the juniors or college ranks visit The Prospect Park.
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