The Red Wings have signed left winger Jakub Rychlovský to a two-year entry-level contract, according to a team announcement. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Rychlovský, 23 in August, was never drafted by an NHL team but is coming off a breakout season in the Czech Extraliga that made him one of the more intriguing international free agents on the market. He’s played primarily in professional leagues in Czechia since being draft-eligible in 2019 but has only made his way to the top level consistently in the last two years.
The 5’10” winger’s 2023-24 campaign truly came out of nowhere. After failing to score double-digit goals at any level since his last season in the Czech junior system, he exploded for 26 tallies with 20 assists for 46 points in 51 games with Bílí Tygří Liberec. That led the league in goals and was good enough for second on the team in points behind veteran Tomáš Filippi’s league-best 62.
On the heels of that upper-echelon performance, Rychlovský will try his hand in North America and attempt to earn a roster spot out of camp with the Wings. With a bevy of unrestricted free agents at the bottom of the forward lineup, there should be a decent amount of turnover, potentially creating a spot up for grabs that Rychlovský can compete for in earnest.
It’s a two-year deal, though, and he’s still quite young, so Detroit can be patient with Rychlovský if he’s not ready for NHL action right away. It’s unclear if there’s a European assignment clause baked into his ELC, but if not, he’s a candidate to begin next season in the minors. He joins Jonatan Berggren, 2022 top-ten pick Marco Kasper and 22-year-old Swedish winger Elmer Söderblom as U-24 forwards likely competing for spots in Detroit’s bottom six.
Rychlovský will be a restricted free agent when his deal expires after the 2025-26 season.